English Riviera Magazine December 2018 / January 2019

Walks • Local Food • Heritage • Nature • People • Events • Arts

EnglishRiviera December 2018/January 2019

Celebrate the Season

101

Fun Festivities

magazine ENJOY! Festive Food & Drink

ALL THAT JAZZ with Fougou

Music

Give It A Go!

TRAIL RUNNING

Discover hidden

Emsworthy Mire

High Seas & Disaster Zones with

TIM HEDGES

A Life in Flowers with

SUSAN WILLS-POPE

DEVON FREEWHEELERS

The hidden heroes

One Man's War

Remembering Sam Lane

English Riviera Magazine for Residents by Residents DELIVERED FREE TO HOMES AND BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE BAY

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About us...

Created and Published By Devon Magazine Company Limited Anita Newcombe anita@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Telephone: 01803 850886 Julian Rees julian@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Telephone 01803 842893 Mobile: 07455 206470 Advertising sales sales@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Advertising Copy copy@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Editorial editorial@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk Website englishrivieramagazine.co.uk ISSN (Print) 2052-8515 ISSN (Online) 2052-8523

Next issue 25 January Write to us at: ENGLISH RIVIERA MAGAZINE 69 DAVIES AVENUE PAIGNTON TQ4 7AW © 2018 All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form without prior permission of the publishers. All material is sent at the owner’s risk and whilst every care is taken, Devon Magazine Company Ltd will not accept liability for loss or damage. Every effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of our content but the publishers cannot be held responsible for any omissions, errors or alterations or for the consequences of any reliance on these details; neither can they vouch for the accuracy of claims made by any advertiser.

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers.

Welcome

...to the December-January issue!

Christmas is upon us but this issue is not just about the festive season. We are also remembering WWI in this centenary year. We bring you an extraordinarily courageous account from Sam Lane of ‘The Kensingtons’ and we hear about Cockington’s Purple Poppy Day commemorating the important role that horses played in the conflict.

Plus, we meet current day ‘Hidden Heroes’ at Devon Freewheelers.

Also in this issue we chat to Susan Wills-Pope about how she built up her floristry business and to Tim Hedges on his fascinating careers in sailing and international aid. We visit Greenway to talk to Jane Wibberley about Agatha Christie’s Steinway piano and go trail running in some of the area’s most beautiful spots. Our big What’s On section along with our arts and theatre picks, should offer plenty to tempt you out this season. And you’ll find a range of scrumptious recipes to try.

We hope that you enjoy reading this issue and if you respond to any of our local advertisers do give us a mention – it helps us to bring your English Riviera magazine to you!

Happy reading and stay local this Christmas!

@EngRivieraMag c englishriveramag f englishriveramagazine englishrivieramagazine.co.uk If you would like to ADVERTISE your business in English Riviera Magazine Call 01803 850886 or email sales@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

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December/January 2018/19 | 3

ABBEY SCHOOL Your local Torquay prep school with places for nursery, infant and junior children

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We’re open all year round with our thriving holiday club running in all school holidays.

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In this issue

Contents

December & January 2018-19 6 Openers

Local news snippets

12 Susan Wills-Pope A life in flowers

28

Emsworthy Mire

16 Tim Hedges

High seas and disaster zones

20 Colonel Robert Smith Artist and architect

22 Agatha Christie’s Piano Restored to its former glory

24 Sergeant Sam Lane

Personal experiences of the Great War

27 Cockington’s Purple Poppy Day Honouring local horses from WWI

28 Emsworthy Mire

Newly opened nature reserve

32 Give it a Go! Trail Running

Anita explores stillness, motion and beauty

34 Christmas Food & Drink

Festive food to tempt your tastebuds

44 Winter Woodland Walk Exploring Parke

48 What’s On

Our pick of December and January events

60 Arts Roundup

Creative events around the Bay

62 Theatre

Who’s treading the boards?

65 Fougoo Jazz

A new music experience

27

Cockington’s Purple Poppies

67 South Devon College Students Making waves

68 Charities and Volunteering Devon Free Wheelers

73 Gardening

Liz Wallace’s green-fingered column

77 Social Diary

Local people at local events

80 Business Snippets

Local business news in brief

82 The Briefing

Legal topics from Wollen Michelmore

On the cover The Train of Lights

© Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

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Devon Freewheelers

December/January 2018/19 | 5

Openers... Openers... Openers... O Fish & Chips for the Ladies Lounge Hanbury’s Fish & Chips is giving a delicious boost to the work of registered charity, The Ladies’ Lounge, which supports vulnerable women in Torbay. David Hanbury is providing free weekly fish and chips to the group.

Run by volunteers and funded by grants and donations, The Ladies’ Lounge is proving extremely welcome to vulnerable women from all backgrounds who crave a safe, friendly environment to chat if they want to, enjoy crafts and make new friends. Founder Ros Ede says, “We help women who have suffered, or are suffering, from domestic abuse, have mental health problems, who are in recovery from different addictions, and those who are homeless.” The Ladies Lounge would welcome more business support and also volunteers.

The sessions take place on 2nd Floor, Salvation Army building in Market Street, Torquay. Open Mondays from 11.30am to 2pm & Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 4pm.

Contact: ladieslounge@talktalk.net or 07895 155965.

Living Coasts – Ditch the Plastic Torquay’s Living Coasts is part of a new global movement by world aquariums to raise awareness about plastic pollution. The European Commission and the United Nations Environment Programme are coordinating the coalition. Aquariums are pledging to change their procurement policies, for example in restaurants and shops, to eliminate all single use plastic items. They will also be encouraged to ally with potential partners, sponsors, funders and NGOs to maximise impact by promoting best practices in behavioural change on a local, regional, national and global scale.

Living Coasts was the first aquarium in the UK to sign up and is one of seven in this country supporting the initiative while aquariums from 33 countries worldwide are also involved. The movement, was launched at the fifth #OurOcean conference, held in Bali. Living Coasts Curator Clare Rugg said, “Living Coasts engages visitors on the issue of plastics in the ocean in many ways, sharing facts and figures during talks, providing education sessions for children, creating displays of plastic litter found on local beaches and working with partners in the Torbay Cleaner Coasts Initiative to collect coastal litter. We stopped selling single use plastic bottles on site and are moving to reduce plastics on the site wherever possible.” livingcoasts.org.uk 6 | December/January 2018/19

.. Openers... Openers... Openers...

Helping Youngsters in Crisis Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has won a national award for work in reducing the number of young people facing mental health crises. With its admission rates for self-harm among young people twice the national average, the Trust’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) set up a crisis home response team. It provides intensive support to young people experiencing mental health crisis, in their own homes, thus avoiding the need for hospital admittance.

In addition to winning the Child and Adolescent Services Award, they were also shortlisted for Team of the Year.

Chief Executive, Liz Davenport said, “I am absolutely delighted that the team has won this national award.

They had a vision for what they wanted to achieve, which was about transforming the service for our young people. They faced plenty of challenges along the way – including recruiting enough staff with the right experience to provide cover out-of-hours. Thanks to their vision, innovation and determination we are now offering first-rate support for young people with urgent mental health needs.”

New Yacht for Disabled Sailing The Torquay-based Disabled Sailing Association has taken delivery of a brand new, 38ft Beneteau Oceanis yacht called Freedom, purchased at £134,000 from funds raised over a two and a half year campaign.

Freedom is now moored in Torquay Harbour following a 13-hour trip round from Hamble. It replaces the group’s older yacht by the same name, which has been sold. The Beneteau has a wide beam with more deck space for wheelchairs and is roomier below than its englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

predecessor; it is ideally suited to those with limited mobility. Disabled Sailing Association is a non-profit making organisation, run for the disabled by the disabled with support from able-bodied community volunteers.

It aims to give disabled folks the fun and freedom of sailing in the bay and beyond. disabledsailingassociation.org.uk

Purple Flag Torquay has retained its Purple Flag accreditation for its evening and night-time economy, the only town in Devon and Cornwall to receive this award. Similar to the Blue Flag for beaches, the purple flag accreditation aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5pm and 5am.

Areas awarded the Purple Flag provide a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture whilst promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and local residents. Councillor Robert Excell, Executive Lead for Community Services, said, “This is great news for our evening and night time economy in Torquay, and I congratulate everyone involved in working hard to ensure we retain the Purple Flag status. This success is testimony to the hard work and dedication of a number of key partners, which includes: local business, trade members from the Best Bar None group, Police, the Street Pastors, English Riviera BID representatives, TDA, Taxi Trade and the Council. Purple Flag accredited areas have all reported a consistent increase in footfall and a decrease in crime within the area.

December/January 2018/19 | 7

Openers... Openers... Openers...

Paw Prints in the Somme

Fish Market Tours

Torquay born and raised Dan Metcalf who attended Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, has published a new children’s book Paw Prints in the Somme. To commemorate 100 years since the end of World War One, Paw Prints in the Somme is a story about the front line, as experienced by a young kitten. In the First World War, thousands of cats were used as vermin control. The story follows young farm cat Tom, who is transported from his home in Devon to the trenches. There he makes firm friends with boy soldier Jim, who adopts Tom as his lucky charm and promises to get Tom home to Devon if they make it through the war. Tom uses his senses and instincts to protect his friend, fighting his own fears and battles along the way.

Dan Metcalf has written and published over 20 books for children. danmetcalf.co.uk/pawprints

The final Brixham Fish Market Tour of the season was again fully subscribed and participants enjoyed the usual delicious post-tour breakfast at Rockfish. Organiser Christine Hodgetts presented a cheque for £5,000 to Matt Skinner for the Fisherman’s Mission. Mike Gilbert representing Vigilance of Brixham also donated a cheque for the mission. Mitch Tonks and the team at Rockfish were also thanked for sponsoring the whole season’s tour breakfasts. Bookings are already being taken for next season’s fish market tours.

UCSD Graduation

It’s been another year of celebration for the University Centre South Devon (UCSD) graduates. The Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay played host to over 200 successful graduates. The 2018 cohort included the first set of graduates from the HNC Marine Technologies, BSc Civil Engineering, and the BA (Hons) Education, Development and Society Degrees. The University of Plymouth validates the higher education provision at UCSD, with the two organisations working in close partnership. Students received their degrees from Professor Jerry Roberts,

8 | December/January 2018/19

Deputy Vice-Chancellor- Research and Enterprise at the University of Plymouth, as well as South Devon College Principal, Stephen Criddle OBE, and Chair of the Governing Body, Caroline Lee. BA (Hons) Leadership and Management student George Raisey, from Torquay, received the Academic Partnership Prize, awarded annually by the University of Plymouth to a leading UCSD student. FdSc Yacht Operations student Dom Hall, from Newton Abbot, was presented with the UCSD Employability Prize, for his outstanding levels of motivation, drive and passion towards forging a successful career in the marine industry.

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Riviera People

Susan Wills-Pope

A Life in Flowers

Susan Wills-Pope’s day starts with a heady waft of perfumed air as she enters one of her three delightful flower shops in Torquay, Brixham and Paignton.

Anita Newcombe drops by to smell the roses.

T

oday I’m visiting The Flower Corner in Wellswood, a florist.” one of Susan’s successful florist shops, all located By now, Susan’s father had taken note of how well she right here in the Bay. The damp, fragranced air is warm was doing in the world of flowers and suggested opening and reminiscent of a tropical holiday. Susan tells me a florist shop. He hoped to run the shop himself, with that she opened her first shop in Paignton in 1972, an Susan doing the flowers. The plan came to an abrupt halt incredible 46 years ago. But she didn’t always want to be a however, when soon afterwards her father became poorly florist. As a youngster she loved farming, animals and the and died. Susan was back to square one. land. But her father didn’t think it was worthwhile for her Then, along came an opportunity to buy an existing to train at Seale-Hayne as he felt that she was probably florist’s shop in Hyde Road in Paignton. Susan didn’t going to marry and give up her career. hesitate. Managing to borrow money for the venture from Instead, after leaving Marist Convent School in her mother, she bought the shop. The existing owner Paignton, she took a job at a local garden centre & florist stayed on to help her for just a week after which the shop called Irelands. She was employed as a trainee business was all hers. She remembers, “A family friend florist and her first taught me how to do Dutch lorries used to come every week and to the books; of course job was mossing Susan it was like an Aladdin’s Cave of treasure it was all manual wreaths; this being with a huge variety of exotic flowers inside to then.” Her late the medium used admire and buy to hydrate the father’s accountant wreaths before foam became an option. Over the years and bank manager were both very helpful with advice as Susan learned all about the plants, how to make beautiful she scrambled to learn business processes - and clearly arrangements and how to design and tie bouquets. managed it pretty well.

She soon started doing competition work where she Susan set to work to update the shop she had bought gained lots of new ideas. Then a big break happened and put her own stamp onto it. Initially it was just Susan when she won an area competition for the South West. plus a lady who’d worked with her in her previous job.

She’d created a large, special occasion arrangement that She explains, “We did everything ourselves; we bought caught the eye of the judges. Although she wasn’t placed flowers from local nurseries and wholesalers, we arranged in the final, she received a phone call asking if she’d like them and we delivered them too.” to exhibit at Chelsea Flower Show. Susan recalls how At this time, enormous Dutch lorries used to come nerve-wracking and exciting an experience that was. She every week and to Susan it was like an Aladdin’s Cave of tells me, “Chelsea was absolutely wonderful. Heaven for treasure with a huge variety of exotic flowers inside to

“

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 13

admire and buy. In those days florists bought and sold far more locally grown flowers than they do now but it became difficult for the local and regional growers to compete with the Dutch lorries. Susan remembers, “We’d sometimes have three Dutch lorries parked up outside the shop at once.”

However, Susan did source roses from Jersey and the Isle of Man, freesias from Guernsey and narcissi from the Isles of Scilly. She says, “Flowers were much more seasonal then and flowers are better in their natural season. Spring flowers are breathtakingly transient and I rue the day that we totally lose our seasons.”

After her opening of the Paignton shop, Susan opened and traded in Torquay’s Abbey Road for about 20 years before moving to Wellswood. She’d had her eye on the Wellswood shop for ages, having met the owner at Torquay railway station when collecting early morning deliveries. She reminisces, “I used to love looking in his shop window; it just exuded luxury and beauty – I simply had to have it when it came on the market.” The Brixham shop then opened about 11 years ago, making a trio of outlets right across the Bay. 14 | December/January 2018/19

Susan tells me that bold floral colours are ‘very in’ right now but customers all have their particular favourites.

Some love the simplicity of white, some don’t like ready-made bows, some want flowers with a very strong fragrance. Growers are bringing back perfumed roses again and Susan adores the white Norma Jeane, highly scented with lovely furled petals. She says, “I do all the buying – this week I’m going to a show in Birmingham to meet growers and suppliers and to see all the new ideas.”

The business currently employs a team of about 16 or 17 people. “We’re a great band”, she says. “People are the joy of it. They have interesting special requests and fascinating stories.” But she explains that it’s not all glamour working as a florist. There are lots of buckets to be washed out plus heavy pedestals and arrangements to heft and deliver. But the good very much outweighs the less good; florists are very friendly and help each other out generously.

The year after the Falklands War, Susan travelled down to the islands with families who had lost family members.

She produced all the funeral tributes for the at-sea services and at San Carlos; funeral tributes have always been a speciality of the business.

Riviera People

Susan also contributes a good deal in the wider flower community. She’s a national floristry judge for Chelsea Flower Show and other shows and also judges floristry for World Skills. She tells me that the creativity she sees is simply fabulous – especially at Chelsea, which has become ever more sophisticated with new styles and techniques being added every year.

I ask Susan if she foresees any supply difficulties from Europe after Brexit. She laughs and tells me, “Flowers are a big thing for the British. The Dutch love us and we’ll get them supplying us even if they have to come in a pony and trap!”

When Susan met her husband Brian, he was already working in flowers so he “was quite a catch” becoming a partner in the business and managing most of the accounts and administration. When the couple are not working they enjoy eating out and favourite restaurants include: Number 7 Fish Bistro, The Waddling Duck Bistro, The Orange Tree and Amici. They also love visiting National Trust Gardens. Susan has a taste for sea swimming although she’s “got a bit lax recently!” She also sings in a local choir and loves meeting new people.

With the festive season and Christmas approaching I ask englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Susan what sort of arrangements people order. She explains that many people like to make their own arrangements and come in to buy the flowers and accessories they need.

Susan runs classes every November to show people how to make Christmas wreaths or welcome rings as she calls them. Lots of businesses have Christmas displays in their windows – in fact many of them have floral displays all year round, which Susan’s team provides.

Susan prefers the natural look for her festive arrangements although she’s happy to add glittery items if people like them. She tells me that she regularly uses berries, pines, naked holly (lots of berries, no leaves), ivy, variegated holly, red carnations, roses and poinsettias and amaryllis.

Poinsettias are marvellous with red, white and variegated options (like the peaches and cream varieties). It’s going to be extremely busy as the festive season gets going.

Finally, I ask Susan for her top tip on running a flower shop (I’m feeling rather inspired). She tells me, “Don’t buy too tight – have lots of flowers around – a flower shop should look beautiful at all times with lots of variety and colour.” susansflowershop.com December/January 2018/19 | 15

Tim Hedges

High Seas & Disaster Zones Local resident Tim Hedges has been a ‘career sailor’ for much of his life and now works in the front line at Shelterbox, while still finding time to volunteer as a trustee for Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.

Anita Newcombe catches up with him at Occombe Farm.

I

’m meeting Tim Hedges at Occombe Farm Café, in the farming hub and HQ of conservation charity Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust. It’s good to pin him down because, although he lives locally, he is by nature one of the world’s wanderers. He explains that his parents met and married in Torbay and after a spell in east Devon they moved to Portugal where Tim attended an Englishspeaking international school.

Having learned to sail in Portugal with his parents who were both keen sailors, he returned to Torbay in the late 1980s. He tells me, “After finishing my A-levels I didn’t know what career path to take so I started teaching sailing.” Initially he worked at a sailing school in Plymouth and then got a post as an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor in Brixham after the marina opened. He enjoyed teaching sailing students so much that he ended up doing it for 12 years.

Tim headed out to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, working as a charter skipper, mainly doing yacht deliveries. His last hands-on role was as a skipper on the legendary Clipper ’98 Round the World Yacht Race. The race is recognised as one of the very toughest challenges a yacht skipper can undertake and involves a 40,000 nautical mile race around the world. Tim remembers, “It was a great way to live.” He finished in third place on a yacht called Chrysolite, a huge achievement. It was during this race that Tim met his wife Rebecca, who was on the crew of a rival racing yacht.

Once married, they initially lived in Dorset and Tim spent several years as Race Director for Clipper Round the World. He selected the crews, planning and overseeing their training and then organised the racing itself. Once the race was underway, Tim’s job involved flying out to the stopover ports, racking up plenty of air miles along the 16 | December/January 2018/19

way. Sounds idyllic to me but Tim explains, “It’s a fairly stressful job – you have a huge responsibility for the crews – you didn’t sleep much because we ran a 24 hour-a-day ‘on call’ system for 8 months of the year.” Warming to his subject he tells me, “It’s actually easier skippering a yacht yourself than being Race Director because you have to worry about all the crews on all the boats, all the time!”

There tends to be a fairly even mix of males and females aboard the Clipper Round the World yachts and this year a female skipper, Wendy Tuck, made history by becoming the first woman to win the race. Wendy is an Australian but second place went to a female British skipper called Nikki Henderson. Tim tells me that the kind of people who sign up for this kind of race tend to be pretty confident so there are no issues with whether a sailor is male or female - they all work together well.

By this time, Tim had the first two of his family of three children and because of all the travelling he was doing, started to realise that he was missing out on family life. He had already moved to Torbay in 2006 and now decided to grab an opportunity to run a Higher Education Programme at Falmouth Marine School. It was to prove a very different but interesting experience helping people at the start of their careers. It gave Tim and his family a much better life balance and it was fascinating seeing how public sector academia worked.

However there was less autonomy for someone more used to making split-second decisions in a hugely dynamic environment and when his 3-year contract ended in 2010, he moved to Shelterbox, the disaster relief charity. Shelterbox was founded in Cornwall in the year 2000 and has since become a major humanitarian aid charity that has close relations with Rotary worldwide.

Initially Tim worked on formalising Shelterbox’s

Riviera People

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December/January 2018/19 | 17

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Riviera People training programme and introducing a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) approach. The role soon evolved into working on corporate events and fundraising training to raise goodwill, support and funds for the charity. He was involved with a 35-mile Dartmoor Challenge and chaired the International Fundraising Conference for two years running.

However, Tim then found himself headhunted by Alex Thompson to join a team preparing for the 2012 Vendée Globe Single Handed Yacht Race. The role, based in Gosport, involved managing logistics and the many and varied tasks involved in a high profile racing campaign.

After three years, he went on to work freelance and ran the finish event for the local River Dart 10K swim amongst other roles.

He tells me, “Working freelance gave me much better time flexibility and I started volunteering for Shelterbox, doing overseas deployments in Ecuador and Iraq as part of their disaster reponse teams.”

During this time Tim discovered that well-meaning knee-jerk reactions to disasters could lead to poorer

“

running water with every day a struggle to survive. He says, “It puts everything into perspective.” He tells me that he now expects to stay at Shelterbox as they are a great employer, very flexible and family friendly.

Although projects are often short notice due to the very nature of disasters, attendance is optional if family commitments do not allow.

In spite of already working in the voluntary sector, Tim has also found time to volunteer as a trustee for our local conservation charity Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.

He says, “ I’ve spent so much of my working life working away that I’m very conscious of what we have right here on our doorstep. It’s easy to overlook what’s familiar. When you’ve been to a disaster area, being able to come back and walk the dogs at a properly managed and carefully maintained site like Berry Head, makes you realise the huge value of the Trust’s work.”

As a family they are quite outdoorsy, enjoying camping, abseiling, mountain biking, kayaking, swimming and Scouts. Tim’s wife Rebecca swims in the sea every week all the year round. Their son is

Working freelance gave me much better time flexibility and I started volunteering for Shelterbox, doing overseas deployments in Ecuador and Iraq as part of their disaster response teams.

outcomes for affected people. It is important to ensure that any response is appropriate and avoids creating longer-term problems. He felt the Shelterbox approach was sound and when an opportunity came up to rejoin the staff he took it. He now works as Humanitarian, Diplomacy and Rotary Liaison Lead for Shelterbox.

He explains, “Shelterbox is closely tied to Rotary and 90% of Shelterbox deployments use local contacts with Rotary in the affected areas. The Rotary network, with their local resources and knowledge, is invaluable for teams arriving in country.” Tim’s new role formalised the work of pre-empting, building and strengthening Shelterbox’s relationships with Rotary in areas frequently affected by disasters.

Now you can often see Tim speaking from international disaster zones, recording Shelterbox podcasts, which let the public know what is happening on the ground and what the Shelterbox teams are doing to help. He was on deployment in Ethiopa in August and explains that even without conflict-related displacement, people’s normal standard of living is poor with no fresh englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

keen on dinghy sailing at Paignton. Their youngest daughter loves horses and riding at Liverton and their elder daughter is a keen ballet dancer with a key role in her ballet school’s annual performance at Torquay’s Princess Theatre. Tim himself has completed a triathlon for Shelterbox. They enjoy cycling on the Powderham to Exeter Cycle Path and have a beach hut at Preston. Tim explains that he loves the extent and variety of rural coastline we have such as Ansteys Cove and Elberry Cove with a wonderful combination of coast and countryside.

He says, “We should all support Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust in any way we can because we are really privileged to have so many conservation sites on our doorstep. This doesn’t just happen – there’s lots more work involved in ensuring local wildlife protection and well-maintained public access than people realise.

Without the work of charities like Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, it would be easy to lose these assets without realising it.” countryside-trust.org.uk December/January 2018/19 | 19

Colonel Robert Smith’s

Redcliffe House

Colonel Robert Smith was a talented artist and architect who served in India with the Bengal Engineers. Settling in Torbay upon retirement he built Redcliffe House, now known as The Redcliffe Hotel. Ian Handford of Torbay Civic Society tells us more.

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obert was the third son of James Smith, Private Secretary to the Marquis of Hastings. Born at Bridgeland Street in Bideford, North Devon in 1787, Robert was already showing promise as an artist by the age of thirteen. Two of his earliest watercolours of Weare House Gifford, painted for the Earl of Fortescue, may today be viewed at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.

Wanting to be an artist, Robert enrolled as a cadet with the East India Company College Marlow in 1803, where under the influence of its drawing instructors he produced a magnificent watercolour of his Bideford home. The East India Company with strong links to the continent enabled Robert to join the Bengal Engineers at age sixteen and he became involved in designing roads, bridges, fortifications and eventually buildings.

Having arrived in Calcutta in 1805, his skill at drawing and sketching plus a natural technical talent, helped with his engineering and architectural designs. This immediately saw him accepted by East India engineers. Later his designs for villas and houses would lead to private commissions by the Rajah of Murshidabad for new palaces.

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From the outset, Robert was mixing with a coterie of gifted people, including the artist George Chinnery who had moved to India from Britain having fled London to avoid mounting debt. Although Chinnery recognised Robert’s exceptional talent, it would be another officer who wrote, “ Smith is by far the best draftsman I am acquainted with.” The wife of Commander-in-Chief Sir George Nugent noted this favourable comment and asked the young Robert Smith to join their group on a tour of Upper India during 1812-1813. Later Lady Nugent wrote, “Robert’s artistic views of Benares, Lucknow, Kanpur are so beautiful, that I know every place immediately.”

In 1814, the Marquis of Hastings (later Lord Moira First Grand Master of India) invited Robert on a military tour of duty. This was despite his recurring poor health, which eventually saw him sent to the convalescent island Penang. He then moved to China to avoid returning to the hostile climate of India. Soon afterwards he found himself seconded as a general field engineer in the Nepal War; working hostilities ceased in 1816. Finally he moved to the Prince of Wales Island in Penang to become its Superintending Officer.

Riviera Heritage

Colonel Robert Smith

Adelaide Vitton de Claude. They produced a daughter The island of Penang was a literal haven of beauty who died at age three and a son Claude who outlived his and being in charge of the convalescent home meant father. Julia’s death in 1950 left a distraught father and duties were light. That enabled him to design defence son who spent years in isolation. systems for the island, following which he painted what Lt. Colonel Smith returned to India to witness became accepted as some of his best oils and watercolours the opening of the Ganges Canal, a time when his ever. The new freedom allowed him to design houses reputation was properly recalled, resulting in a final for wealthy Chinese, and in time this work made him honour from the Army when given the rank of rich. Yet having learned he had lost all his brothers and Honorary Colonel (Retired). constantly in poor health, he felt that it was time to Colonel Smith and his son now moved to Italy until at return home. However, not before critics questioned some the age of sixty-three he, together with Claude, returned to of his drawings for a new Church, which had proved over Britain, staying at his sister Mary’s house at Teignmouth in costly. Back home this incurred the wrath of the London Devon. Later they moved to Torquay where now the initial Court of Directors, although having issued an official plans for Redcliffe House reprimand, no further action was ever taken.

Redcliffe had a number of novel features in Preston, Paignton were Back in London like a glass domed plunge bath, a walled drawn. Construction of the house started in 1855 by 1819 it was seawater pool and an internal tunnel on an outcrop of granite, a decade before from house to beach. chosen as its height above Robert received the sea water level, offered safety. The outcrop split at the rear prominence he deserved. Returning to India in 1822, he leaving an opportunity for the Council to build a road worked on the Doab Canal and helped restore a number Marine Drive - where eventually new residences appeared of historic monuments in and around Delhi; these opposite. included the Qutb Minar, Jami Musjid, the Red Fort and Father and son lived at Redcliffe Towers (nickname of even Gothic fortifications around the City. He always locals) with live-in servants. Redcliffe had a number of adored the Indian way of life; it is said that he took an novel features like a glass domed plunge bath, a walled Indian wife although little has been written about this. seawater pool and an internal tunnel from house to beach.

On being appointed Garrison Engineer of Delhi, But having witnessed his sister’s death in 1872 Colonel Robert’s recurring health problem was exacerbated after Smith spent his remaining months at her home in Warren being wounded at the siege of Bharatpur in 1825-26.

Road Torquay, until he died on September 16th 1873.

Although promoted to Major he requested a leave of absence to convalesce. When granted this offered him the Today he lies still, alongside his sister and their father in a Teignmouth churchyard. opportunity to do what he liked best, paint. It is recorded Claude, mirroring his father, joined the Army but that he produced 300 canvasses in total, although only after inheriting he returned to Redcliffe House where, ten percent have ever been found. unlike his father, he accrued massive debt and was Major Smith retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1932 forced to sell his home. and what happened to the Indian wife was never known.

On returning home he eventually, in 1840, married Julia torbaycivicsociety.co.uk

“

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 21

Agatha Christie’s

Piano

Agatha Christie’s wonderful Steinway Boudoir Grand Piano, beloved to visitors at Greenway fell silent during the summer while specialist conservation work was carried out. Anita Newcombe chats to volunteer pianist Jane Wibberley to find out more.

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gatha Christie was a highly talented but very shy that Agatha Christie’s dream was to be a concert pianist. concert pianist, who regularly played privately on As a child, she regularly attended musical comedies with her Steinway in the drawing room at her holiday home her Granny, who would also buy the musical scores for at Greenway. Dating back to the late 1800s, the piano her. Agatha would take them home to Ashfield in Torquay was based in Agatha’s London home when Greenway and practise for hours each day. By her mid teens she was requisitioned during the Second World War. During was practising for up to 7 hours a day and during this its stay there it survived a bombing raid. Returned to time, she played her first concert. It was a disaster - she Greenway after the war, it’s now regularly played by was totally overcome by the stage fright she was never National Trust volunteers and visitors alike and there’s a to conquer. She could perhaps have been a celebrated definite frisson of excitement knowing that the Queen of concert pianist but it was not to be.

Crime herself once played this marvellous instrument.

In the mid 1930s, now married, Agatha bought her The Steinway’s restoration project began at the end of Steinway piano and kept it in her private room in their July, when Jeff Clamp, London home, along with Before Jeff set to work it was getting restorer and tuner of her writing desk where she difficult to play. You couldn’t get the antique and modern had now started writing right dynamic range and much of the keyboards, began the her world-famous novels. sensitivity had been lost. It now sounds She is reported to have said work in the drawing just like a Steinway should. room at Greenway in that she was never to be front of an audience disturbed unless the house of visitors. After gently cleaning the strings and the was on fire. There she played her concert repertoire in soundboard, he explained, “I’m taking away the workings splendid solitude – a wonderful talent never to be heard of the piano – pedals, action and dampers. I will totally outside her own home. She also enjoyed singing and was strip them down to their component parts and rebuild, a talented soprano but again this was very much a private replacing any damaged parts with authentic replacements, pursuit for Agatha. while trying to keep as much of the original as possible.”

For visitors to Greenway, seeing and being encouraged Today, with the restoration successfully completed to play Agatha Christie’s piano in the Drawing Room is and the piano back in its place, I’m popping in to meet quite delightful, while volunteer pianist Jane Wibberley regular volunteer pianist Jane Wibberley at Greenway. She makes it the perfect experience. She often gets people obviously loves playing here and tells me, “The restored dancing (practise your Tango or Waltz beforehand) and piano is an absolute delight. Before Jeff set to work it loves to get children involved. Jane will turn her more was getting difficult to play. You couldn’t get the right classical fingers to childhood favourites like Twinkle, dynamic range and much of the sensitivity had been lost.

Twinkle and Wheels on the Bus to the delight of younger It now sounds just like a Steinway should.” visitors. Jane tells me, “If you engage the children, the Jane generally plays the piano and chats to visitors at parents and grandparents are also engaged.”

Greenway on Thursdays from 11am- 1pm. She tells me So it’s very jolly around the piano when Jane is playing.

“

22 | December/January 2018/19

Riviera Heritage Did You Know?

Agatha Christie composed a waltz called One Hour With Thee, which was published under her maiden name A.M.C. Miller and is regularly played at Greenway.

In 1930, under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott, Agatha wrote a successful novel called Giant’s Bread about a young man with musical genius.

Hercule Poirot was a classical music lover and Miss Marple enjoyed a night at the opera.

Sometime it can get quite emotional though. One man had travelled from South America to see Agatha Christie’s piano and dissolved into tears of delight when he was able to play the revered instrument. Jane plays Agatha’s favourite hymn every week and once a choir arrived and sang along beautifully.

At the beginning of her career she took an Honours Science Degree at Reading University, trained and worked as a teacher and then lived in Nigeria with her husband and two sons where they were agricultural and teaching missionaries. Back in the UK Jane helped put on a musical show in a prison and subsequently became involved for over 20 years in prison ministry much of it as a Sessional Prison Chaplain.

For many years Jane has worked as ‘Just Jane,’ playing smooth jazz and light classical music on the piano combined with speaking engagements throughout the UK and overseas at a range of venues such as hotels, conference centres, churches and hospitals. Her work within the NHS in Healing Arts Management arose from this work.

Now semi-retired, Jane is still in demand for her afterdinner style entertainment with music in a chat-show format that includes plenty of audience participation.

Her themed programmes include: ‘A Journey to Broadway and All That Jazz’ and ‘Around the World in 80 Tunes.’ She also plays in a jazz trio (The Wibb Trio) with her two adult sons when they are available. If you’d like to chat to Jane about an event, just pop in and see her at Greenway during one of her sessions (do phone to check she’ll be there).

Jane tells me, “My weekly engagement at Greenway, meeting colleagues and our lovely guests, is delightful and amazingly Agatha Christie and I share the same birthday.”  national-trust.org.uk/greenway englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Agatha’s favourite hymn is The Lord’s My Shepherd which is played weekly at Greenway and links to the stained glass window she donated to the Church of St Mary the Virgin at Churston Ferrers.

Hear for yourself...

Jane Wibberley will be playing music with a Christmas and seasonal flavour in December – why not drop in for a chat?

Greenway Sat Dec 8th 11am-1pm Wed Dec 27th 11am-1pm Coleton Fishacre Sat Dec 1st 11am-1pm Sat Dec 29th 11am-1pm December/January 2018/19 | 23

Sam Lane of the ‘Kensingtons’

Personal Experiences of the Great War

Local resident Roger Lane and his siblings have kindly allowed us to reproduce this evocative and immensely courageous account their grandfather Sergeant Stanley A. (Sam) Lane M.M. wrote for his regimental magazine.

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ergeant Lane (1895-1977) was known to his service chums as Sam but to his family, he was always known as Gaffer. He volunteered for the Territorial Army, before the start of the 1914-1918 World War. He joined the 2nd battalion, and later the 1st battalion of the ‘Kensingtons’, the name given to the 13th London Regiment, also known as ‘Princess Louise’s Own’. He served throughout the 1914-18 War in France and was awarded the Military Medal for ‘Bravery in the Field’. Sam survived the war and died in Devon in 1977. This is just one of his experiences: On the 9th May, 1915, at Aubers Ridge, the ‘Kensingtons’ (the only Territorial battalion in the brigade of regular troops) had been selected to lead the attack. As the mines went up at 5.40 a.m. that day, we clambered out of our trenches and doubled across no-man’s land to the mine craters and the first German line, needless to say not without heavy casualties. Our orders -”to take three lines of German trenches, turn half left, line a hedge, and dig in”. Eventually some of us managed to achieve this, but bombs, shells, machine guns and rifle fire soon stopped any attempt at digging in (with entrenching tools only). lt was planned that the regulars would link up with us on our left and on our right but they were unable to reach us.

We were cut off and isolated out there and the enemy, now reorganised and reinforced, was pressing in from all sides.

We were forced back and eventually endeavoured to make

Text and photo: copyright The Lane Family. With thanks to: Roger Lane, Christine Lovett, Anthony Lane and David Lane and also the late Peter Lane.

24 | December/January 2018/19

our way back to the German front line. The communication trenches had been flooded by the enemy from the Riviera des Layes, and many a man was wounded and drowned in the water which reached shoulder height.

Arriving at the Boche front line, we quickly established a block in the bay, for ‘Jerry’ was bombing along it, and here our small force of less than a dozen men held the enemy.

There came a time when we ran out of ammunition and we fell back on German rifles and cartridges and stick bombs, of which there were plenty strewn around the trench. But every few minutes meant a casualty, when suddenly a Lincoln’s officer appeared around the bay leading a half a dozen of his men. lt was getting towards early evening and, realising we could hold out no longer, he shouted- “When I pass the word along, every man will make a dash for it back to our own front line- it will every man for himself ’.

The offensive had increased when, turning round, I found myself alone. Casting a hasty look through a break in the trench top to the German rear, I saw waves of the enemy debouching from a wood, making for their front line. I hastened round the next bay and the next, empty except for some of our wounded lying in the trench bottom and for whom I could do nothing beyond offer a word of comfort in passing.

By this time the Boche was but a hundred yards away.

I scrambled over the parapet, tore through the barbed wire entanglements and had just got clear of it, my clothes in

Riviera Heritage

ribbons, when the enemy arrived back in his own trench and quickly opened a heavy fire. There were a few others ahead of me in no-man’s land, some of whom jumped into shell holes to await the dark, when things might quieten down.

Some, also in shell holes, were wounded and would have to wait for the dark for help. But I was determined to take the risk in the dusk and eventually threw myself over the parapet into our front line, narrowly missing the bayonets of the Middlesex, standing to.

Without food or water all day, soaked to the skin, weary and dispirited at leaving so many of us behind, the word came- “All Kensingtons this way”. A little group gathered in the darkness - actually nine in number- and were led out of the line, eventually reaching a farm a mile back, where we were given a mug of hot cocoa (no milk, but wonderful!).

Worn out, we threw ourselves on to the hay in the barn and, in seconds, were unconscious.

We awoke to the sun streaming in, and the cry- “fall in”.

We lined up on the road in front of the barn, bedraggled and weary, not more than twenty to twenty-five of us for a battalion, including the few who had managed to crawl in through the night. On his horse and followed by the Adjutant came Lt.Col.Lewis. He had come to inspect his battalion. This was it! He had intended to speak to us, of course. He could not. His grief was painful to behold. Tears rolled down his cheeks as, unable to utter a word, he slowly turned his horse away.

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Sam Lane M.M. (1/13th)

December/January 2018/19 25

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Cockington’s

Riviera Heritage

Purple Poppy Day Historic Cockington has become the very first village in Britain to hold a Purple Poppy Day to honour local horses that gave service in the First World War. The idea came from the owners of K & H Cockington Carriages Kirk and Hannah Petrakis who, together with considerable help from Matt Rogan, organised the ceremony. Over 200 local residents attended along with members of the Royal British Legion plus MP Kevin Foster and Cllr Nicole Amil. Wonder Productions read out wartime letters and poems with prayers led

by Cockington’s vicar, Reverend Dave George.

Kirk Petrakis, dressed in authentic WWI uniform, presented a cheque for £250 to Susan Osborne, Co-Founder of the War Horse Memorial. The sum was raised from the sale of purple poppies which is the flower chosen to remember the sacrifice made by millions of horses, mules and donkeys during the war.

Susan Osborne then unveiled a special plaque in Cockington’s village square. A beautiful wreath of purple flowers was presented by Vita Sumeiko of Flower la Vita, Cockington Court Craft Centre.  thewarhorsememorial.org

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 27

The Lost World of

Emsworthy Mire Just a 40-minute drive from Torbay and you will find beautiful Emsworthy Mire, a nature reserve newly opened up and managed by Devon Wildlife Trust. It has now won the prestigious, national Park Protector Award.

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evon Wildlife Trust acquired the 99-hectare Emsworthy Mire nature reserve in 2012. For four years most of this spectacular ‘Dartmoor in Miniature’ was impenetrable to everyone except hardened explorers armed with compasses and machetes. But since 2016, hundreds of volunteer days have been spent cutting pathways through gorse and scrub, laying boardwalks across streams and swamps, and erecting signs and markers to guide visitors around 5km of trails. Annually thousands of people are now discovering this lost world’s mire and moorland, ponds and streams, woods, fields and fascinating wildlife.

As lowland Devon becomes ever more developed, volunteer-led surveys are showing that much of our flora and fauna is increasingly restricted to Dartmoor’s high ground. We only protect what we value, so it’s vital to encourage wider appreciation of Dartmoor National Park’s wildlife. At Emsworthy, people can still engage with numerous species that are disappearing elsewhere. Recent surveys have revealed more breeding snipe here than anywhere else in Devon, plus abundant cuckoos, redstarts, warblers, dragonflies and marsh fritillaries. This nature reserve has a major role to play in the battle to save these and many other species for future generations.

The project, which has seen the restoration of bog habitats has now taken home the prestigious Park

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Discover! Insect Eating Plants Sundews are insect eating plants. The peat in which they grow is nutrient poor so the sundews supplement their diet by luring unsuspecting insects with their glistening, dew-covered tendrils. Once trapped in the plant’s sticky dew, the insect will then be liquidised and absorbed.

Protector Award. The opening of Emsworthy Mire has been recognised for its importance in improving habitats for wildlife and increasing visitor access to this inhospitable landscape, taking home a £2,000 prize, which was presented at a parliamentary reception in London. The annual Award is presented by Campaign for National Parks to recognise, celebrate and support projects that make a difference within the English and Welsh National Parks. President of Campaign for National Parks, the actress Caroline Quentin, as well as Julian Glover, who is leading the government’s review of England’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and National Parks, addressed guests and parliamentarians at the awards reception.

Peter Burgess, Director of Conservation and Development at Devon Wildlife Trust said, “Opening up Emsworthy Mire, is a fantastic example of what can

Countryside Bogs Help Combat Climate Change

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Snodderbottom Wood

o 87 t B33

Pig Wood

Wid m eco

Emsworthy Mire

be

Dartmoor’s bogs are of international importance. Home to remarkable wildlife, they are also vital to our everyday lives.

There are two main types of bogs on Dartmoor: valley mires and blanket bogs.

Many of Devon’s major rivers start their journey on blanket bogs. Their ability to absorb and store water at the top of the hills helps to reduce the risk of flooding and drought. The bogs also act as a carbon store to help combat climate change. As bog plants grow, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The plants then die but are only partially decomposed as the waterlogged, acidic environment slows bacteria and fungi breaking down the dead plant matter. This partially decayed plant material forms the peat deposits, which act as a carbon store.

Saddle Tor

B3387 to Bovey

Tracey

Circular Walking Route Emsworthy Mire is great place to begin and end a Dartmoor walk. The popular Haytor and Hound Tor are within reach via a network of paths across classic moorland scenery. Check out the Magnificent Mires bog walk (5 miles) from Haytor to Emsworthy. A trail route leaflet can be found on the website (see next page).

“

The opening of Emsworthy Mire has been recognised for its importance in improving habitats for wildlife and increasing visitor access to this inhospitable landscape

Dazzling Bluebells Don’t miss the spectacular show of bluebells every year. A gently sloping valley leads you down between ancient dry-stone walls to the ruins of a moorland farm, abandoned since the 1870s. In early summer the fields all around are a dazzling purple from the flowers of thousands of bluebells - a stunning sight. englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 29

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happen when dedicated, passionate people come together to make a difference to our natural world. Through determination and hard work we have completely transformed the mire from an impenetrable and formidable landscape to somewhere both wildlife and visitors can enjoy.”

Caroline Quentin, president of Campaign for National Parks, said, “Opening up Emsworthy Mire is a wonderful project and I am delighted to see them receive the top prize of this year’s Park Protector Award. The National Parks are important national assets and projects such as this one are brilliant examples of why we should all be getting out and enjoying these beautiful areas of countryside.”

Countryside

Birds, Plants and Soggy Bottoms!

Emsworthy Mire is one of the best places in the SW to see and hear a cuckoo - also spot redstarts, hobbies, snipe, ring ouzels and stonechats. You’ll also find insect-eating plants, orchids and rare butterflies such as the marsh fritillary. Emsworthy Mire gets its name from its boggy bottom! You’ll discover an expanse of wet woodland and marshy ground fed by the Becka Brook, which runs through the reserve. Don’t be put off from exploring. A series of waymarked paths and boardwalks get you close to nature.

Redstart

How to Get to Emsworthy Mire Follow the B3387 from Bovey Tracey on to Dartmoor. Continue past the Haytor visitor centre for one mile. Park in a small roadside car park below Saddle Tor on the right, (map grid reference SX 748 762). Look for sign to reserve entrance.

 devonwildlifetrust.org/nature-reserves/emsworthy-mire

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 31

It ’s Fun Trail Running Anita Newcombe explores the incredible blend of stillness, motion and beauty you’ll find when trail running.

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tillness when you’re out in the dark woods semianother runner towards the rear and we initially jogged alone (hopefully with other runners not too far along happily chatting away. Later I struck out on my ahead of you), motion when you’re trying to keep those own and enjoyed the loneliness of it, waving at the odd legs moving along, and beauty as you become totally race steward as I passed them by. Near the finish I was immersed in the wonder of your surroundings. For me met by one of my Riviera Racers run leaders, Steve Carr, this is what trail running is about. In spite of having who had already finished his race and had come back to only started road running in April this year, I’ve now run the final couple of hundred metres with me. Suitably discovered the world of trail running and just love it. spurred on by this encouragement I managed a final burst Trail running is different from road running in that you of energy and hey, was quite a few places ahead of the last have to be very alert to your surroundings, looking out runner at the finish. Well, I felt epic! for tree roots you might trip over, deciding whether you After that, I continued road running with the club and can run up a hill or whether a fast walk would be more worked up from 5K Park Runs to my first 10K road race productive, and soaking up the incredible beauty of your at Exmouth. But I really fancied getting off the road and surroundings. experiencing the delightful frisson of the trail once again.

I may sound as though I know what I’m talking about So I decided to sign up for the Cockington Halloween but I don’t really, having only done two trail runs to Run. Not only trail but also a night-time run and spooky date - but that was enough into the bargain. Eek! There to convince me that they was a choice of 5k or 10K Trail running is different from are simply great. My first road running in that you have to distances and I signed up for trail race was a 5kish jog be very alert to your surroundings, the 5K. I knew that even this through the woods at Decoy would be difficult due to the looking out for tree roots you Country Park in Newton very steep hills around the might trip over Abbot. I thought I could course plus it was my first just trot along happily somewhere at the rear. However, I night run so there was the added possibility of getting soon found that there were only about 45 runners taking lost. In spite of the many runners plus stewards at the part and most of these were from one club and looked event, there was always the chance of wandering off (and terrifyingly fit in their matching running vests. so it proved – I never had any sense of direction).

I was a newbie with local club Riviera Racers so in I turned up in a skeleton tutu over my running leggings fact, did have a red and white club vest on with a white and t-shirt and I also had some skeleton gloves as fancy ‘go-faster’ stripe down the side. I wasn’t sure I could live dress was being suggested. There was a mixture of some up to its promise but once I got into the woods, I found runners in their normal kit and some in wonderfully myself enjoying the feel of bouncing along the path and spooky costumes. Everyone had head torches and I had trying to keep up with those in front. I teamed up with green flashing armbands for added visibility from behind.

“

32 | December/January 2018/19

Give It A Go - Trail Running In fact the course was very well marked with lights and arrows and there were lots of lovely stewards pointing us in the right direction. Nevertheless, towards the end of the race, after successfully following ‘fairylight-lit’ runners up the steep hills, down the slippery valleys, over wooden stiles and along twisty turns, somehow I managed to end up in the brilliantly lit Cockington carpark. This was distinctly not on the route. There was no one else around, no stewards and no one coming down the hill. Nooo!

I was horrified as I saw my chance of a splendid medal slipping away. I was entirely alone and now I could see a long line of illuminated runners in the woods above me.

I ran back uphill towards the lights and found myself in front of a low wall. Vaulting over it I nearly flattened a steward on the other side who pointed me in the right direction and off I charged towards the finish. Hurrah!

Why was this experience fun? Well, there is

something surreal and beautiful about running around the woods at night – infinitely liberating, mildly horrifying and hugely exhilarating. I was almost sorry to finish the race although delighted to get my spooky medal and mini-pack of Haribo sweets. Some of my fellow Riviera Racers club runners were already there and cheered me in, and some were still to come with the first of the 10K runners not far behind.

So the next challenge I’d like to try is the Trust10 Trail run. This is a free trail run that takes place from the National Trust’s Coleton Fishacre along a very rugged part of the South West Coast Path with truly spectacular views.

I’ve walked a lot along the coast path here and there are englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

huge hills, (practically mountains really) so I thought I’d start with just the one loop making a 5k trail run. If you can’t run the steep bits, you can walk or yomp along and still get round in reasonable time. You turn up at Coleton Fishacre at 8.30am to register and the run starts at 9am. There’s no timing so you should self-time if you really want to know! The next two Trust10 trail runs at Coleton Fishacre are Sunday 25 November and Sunday 23 December. Parking charges do apply for non-National Trust members but otherwise there is no cost involved and there are lockers to use free-of-charge. Dogs on leads are welcome too.

Joining a local running club is a good idea to give you regular training, camaraderie and moral support before tackling trail runs for the first time. Why not give it a go? nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre rivieraracers.co.uk

Other Upcoming Trail Runs Burrator Noir on 01 December 10 miles or 10k wildnightrun.co.uk/the-races/burrator-noir-10-mile-10k/ Dark Dart Dash at Dartington on 8 December 10k, 5k, 2k or 1k wildnightrun.co.uk/the-races/dark-dart-dash/ Cockington Christmas Caper on 8 December 7.5miles. cockingtonchristmascaper.co.uk Oh My Obelisk! Dawlish on 13 January 13 miles or 9 miles. dawlishcoasters.com/our-races-/ December/January 2018/19 | 33

Fabulous Fish, Sweet Things & Tempting Tipples

Whilst meaty dishes are traditional at Christmas, don’t forget to include some fish dishes when visitors arrive during the festive season.

As well as stylish fish recipes to impress your guests, we’ve also got some yummy sweet recipes and a range of tasty tipples for you to try.

Hake with Clams, Broad Beans and Sherry

By Jake Bridgwood – Head Chef at The Seahorse Restaurant in Dartmouth

This is a warming winter dish that is light and fresh.

The touch of sherry definitely seems to give it a nice festive touch, and of course a sip of that whilst cooking is highly recommended, if not de rigueur!

Broad beans are not in season, so at The Seahorse we tend to use tinned ones from Barcelona, which are in olive oil.

You can grab frozen ones too; like peas, they freeze incredibly well. If they’re bigger broad beans then blanche first and take the thicker skins off using only the bright green pulse.

Whilst turkey, goose, ham and smoked salmon are regularly talked about and feature on most menus, I think seafood does too, but it doesn’t always get the fanfare the staples do. This should be a celebration meal, even if it is incredibly simple to cook – and that’s got to be a good thing when entertaining!

Ingredients 50ml olive oil 4 hake fillets – use MSC hake from the south west fisheries if you can get it, about 180g each 500g clams 200g broad beans 1 large fat clove of garlic, minced 200ml fish stock, made from white fish 100ml Manzanilla sherry Handful of flat leaf parsley, chopped 2tsp cornflour mixed with 1tsp water to thin Squeeze of lemon

34 | December/January 2018/19

Method Fry the hake fillets in Jake Bridgwood a hot pan with a little olive oil for about 3-4 minutes on each side, leave to rest.

Keep the stock warm in a pan. In another pan heat the remaining olive oil and gently fry the garlic, add the clams and the sherry and turn the heat up for 2 minutes, the clams will start to open. Add the hot stock and turn up the heat until all the clams have opened (discard any that don’t open). Now add the broad beans and just enough of the cornflour to thicken the sauce a little. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle over the parsley and serve.

seahorserestaurant.co.uk

Salmon Wellington with Shellfish Bisque

Festive Food & Drink

This wonderfully festive dish from the Berry Head Hotel’s Senior Sous Chef Hadyn Johnson is easy to make and will be sure to impress your guests.

For the Wellington Ingredients 1 side of fresh salmon 1 puff pastry sheet 2 cloves of garlic 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper 1 good handful of spinach 2 finely diced shallots 2 tbsp chopped dill 2 large crepes (optional)

Hadyn Johnson

Method Place the chopped shallots and spinach into a frying pan (do not use oil) and cook on a gentle heat until soft and well mixed. If using, place your 2 large crepes on top of the pastry (this will help stop your pastry from going soggy). Place the salmon in the middle and season both sides with salt and pepper. Spoon the spinach and shallot mixture over the salmon. Gently fold the pastry over the top of the fish starting with the longest side. Trim off any excess pastry. Transfer the parcel onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for around 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

To get a glazed finish brush the pastry with egg.

To Serve Serve this dish simply with some buttered new potatoes and some green vegetables (you have already worked hard enough). Pour the bisque into a sauce boat then pour yourself a glass of wine before delighting your guests with the results.

And to Drink Jack Tiltman the Berry Head Hotel’s Brasserie Manager recommends enjoying a bottle of Sancerre to accompany the dish which has an aromatic style with clean fruity acidity, a crisp, steely, refined French white wine or perhaps Muscadet, a delightfully dry, French wine with a slight ‘tingle’ on the tongue.

Jack Tiltman

For the Bisque Ingredients 450g crab shells (Brixham crab) 4 tsp olive oil 1 large chopped onion 1 large chopped fennel 2 choped carrots 150ml dry white wine 1 litre good fish stock 1 tsp Tabasco (optional) 400g chopped tomatoes Method Gently fry the shells, onions, fennel and carrots in the oil for about 10 minutes until the vegetables have started to soften. Add the wine and bring to a hard boil. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for around 45 minutes. Drain off the broth and add a little cream. englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

berryheadhotel.com December/January 2018/19 | 35

EST D 1904

R EDCLIFFE H OTEL PAIGNTON

«««

We would like to wish all our customers a very Happy Christmas and we look forward to being of service in 2019. If you haven’t already booked your Christmas event, we are offering 3 course Christmas Lunches from Monday 3rd December @£18.50 pp. Please telephone to book 01803 526397 or email reception@redcliffe hotel.co.uk. Take a look at our new website to see all that we can offer – www.redcliffehotel.co.uk

Vouchers make great presents!!

- now available online The Redcliffe Hotel 4 Marine Drive Paignton TQ3 2NL 01803 526397

Chocella & the Chocolate Café A glorious menu of sweet treats, from hand crafted artisan chocolates, our signature brownies with indulgent sauces, homemade cakes to eat in or take away, is what to expect when visiting The Chocolate Café. Do come along and try our stunningly silky hot chocolate soup served with homemade ginger fingers. Our Italian coffee is blended to compliment, especially our Cappuccino when served with a rich chocolate drizzle! Choose from a wide variety of gifts for that someone special. Book a chocolate party or demonstration for an unforgettable experience!

Middle Street, Brixham TQ5 8ER 01803 431055 c f www.chocella.co.uk

Hamiltons Hamiltons on Babbacombe Downs offers modern contemporary cuisine with a friendly service and warm atmosphere. Enjoy a relaxed lunch or dine in style from our delicious menu and with the theatre just a small step away, it’s perfect for a pre-theatre meal or drink. With private function suites Hamiltons is the ideal venue for every occasion. Choose from our unique club style function room or take in the spectacular views from our first-floor function suite with a balcony overlooking Lyme Bay.

63 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LP 01803 316300 www.hamiltonsclub.com

Stock up for Christmas!

AT OUR BREWERY SHOP IN ASPEN WAY, PAIGNTON

Open 9am-5pm Mon-Fri

f baysbrewery t @baysbrewery As well as being available in good establishments throughout Torbay and Devon you can also buy online or by phone.

Call us now to place your order 01803 555004 or buy online at www.baysbrewery.co.uk 36 | December/January 2018/19

To promote your business to our readers email sales@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Salmon or White Fish Laksa

Festive Food & Drink

This is a homemade, family-accredited version of the traditional laksa. The original uses wide rice noodles but we’ve found that it’s also very yummy with tagliatelle. It’s a quick and delicious lunch or supper dish for festive visitors. You can also use any firm white fish fillets. By Anita Newcombe.

Ingredients 4 salmon fillets (or white fish) with skin removed cooking spray or oil 2 tbsp finely chopped ginger 3 garlic cloves finely chopped 2 x 400g cans reduced fat coconut milk Half a vegetable stock cube or stockpot 1 red chilli, deseeded and diced very small 150g pack Edamame beans 150g tenderstem broccoli (heads whole / stem chopped) 200g sugar snap peas (mangetout) 400g rice noodles or 6 bundles of tagliatelle bunch of coriander chopped Method Mist a non-stick saucepan with oil and gently fry the ginger and garlic for 3 minutes whilst stirring.

Add the 2 tins of coconut milk and then a further 400ml of water; stir. Add the chilli and the half stock cube or stockpot. Stir and bring to a simmer. Add the vegetables and noodles.

Simmer for 3-5 minutes (you will need a little longer if using tagliatelle but leave it slightly firm). Then add the salmon and cook for 5 minutes more until cooked, stirring gently. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle over some coriander to taste.

Leave to stand for 5 minutes and serve in deep bowls – delicious!

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 37

See our website for more details and our menus. Advance booking essential.

www.countryside-trust/occombe/cafe farmcafe@occombe.org.uk

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From 1 october: EVERY DAY BREAKFAST & LUNCH + FRIDAY & SATURDAY EVENINGS

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check our social media for great offers! f c We’re not aiming to be the ‘Worlds Best’ restaurant… ‘Just Yours’!

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breakfasts & hearty lunches, seasonal specials & Sunday roasts, snacks and treats.

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13/09/2018 16:36:53

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Consistently named one of the best independent food retailers in Devon, we’re more than just a fantastic farm shop...

There’s also a fully stocked garden centre and restaurant serving great locally produced meals - we’re famous for our farmhouse breakfasts!

Open 7 days a week with ample free parking Hand car wash on site - have your car washed while you shop!

Give yourself a break over the festive season and try our SUPER SUNDAY ROAST or Famous Full ENGLISH BREAKFAST

FIND US just before the Cayman Golf Dartmouth Road, nr Brixham TQ5 0LL FIND OUT MORE 01803 845837 churstontraditionalfarmshop.org.uk 38 | December/January 2018/19

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Festive Biscotti from Occombe Farm Cookery School

Festive Food & Drink

Make sure you have some of this amazing cranberry, orange & white chocolate biscotti to hand when visitors call over the festive period. It’s scrummy!

Ingredients (makes 20 biscotti) 2 tablespoons olive oil 75g caster sugar 1 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon almond extract 1 egg 115g plain flour Small pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 50g dried cranberries 70g good quality white chocolate (broken into small shards) Finely grated zest of 1 orange Method Preheat the oven to 150° C / Gas mark 2. In a large bowl, mix together the oil and sugar until blended together. Add the vanilla and almond extracts, and then beat in the egg. Combine the flour, salt and baking powder, gradually stir into the egg mixture, and finally add the cranberries, orange zest and white chocolate shards.

Combine to a sticky dough texture.

Divide dough in half. Form two logs (30x5cm) on a baking tray that has been lined with parchment. The dough will be sticky, so wet your hands with cold water to handle the dough more easily. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

Reduce oven heat to 140° C / Gas mark 1.

Once cool, cut the logs on diagonal into 1cm thick slices. Lay on their sides on a parchment covered baking tray. Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry. Leave to cool on the tray.

countryside-trust.org.uk

Delicious served with a spiced chai tea or liqueur coffee during the festive season. Occombe Farm Cookery School is managed by local charity Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust.

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 39

T IT E O D RD AV E R AI N LAB O I W LI LI M IT E O D RD AV ER AI N LAB O I W LI TY

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adult & family events this Chrstmas and new year!

Countdown to Christmas at Cockington

Weekends from 1st - 22nd December 11am-3pm

Tots Bake and Create

Just turn up. Charges for crafting.

Cockington Country Park

Monthly, starts 16th January. Under 5yrs.

Raising funds for Cockington Green Heart Apeal.

Kids Saturday Cookery Club

Festive Craft Workshop

Sunday 9 December 10am-12pm & 1pm-4pm Just turn up. Charges for crafting. Occombe Farm

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Saturday 15 December, 10am-4pm £34 per child. 7-12 yrs. Occombe Farm

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Monday 17 - Friday 21 December, 1pm-2.30pm £5 per tot ,upto 5yrs. Occombe Farm

40 | December/January 2018/19

New for 2019 at Occombe Farm

Monthly, starts 12th January. 7-12yrs See website for more information, about all these events. Booking essential unless stated otherwise.

Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust

www.countryside-trust.org.uk 01803 520 022

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Festive Food & Drink

Brilliantly, Boozy, Brixham Pud! Reader Grace Jeyes shares her delicious homemade Christmas pudding recipe with us. But hurry as traditionally Christmas puddings were made on Stir-Up Sunday, the last Sunday before Advent, which falls this year on 25 November.

The pudding would have been stirred from east to west, in honour of the three wise men who visited baby Jesus. Every member of the family should have a go at stirring and some households would put a silver sixpence into the pudding for good luck.

Ingredients 500g mixed dried fruit, such as raisins, currants, sultanas, cranberries, apricots, cherries 100g chopped prunes 125g suet 125g muscovado sugar 125g plain flour 1 orange 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 150g fresh breadcrumbs 1 handful of finely chopped nuts of your choice 150 ml of any strong spirit lying about in your cupboard like brandy, sherry or whisky (you can even mix the last drops together) 2 large free-range eggs Whisky butter to serve

Whisky Butter

Ingredients 125g unsalted butter, softened 125g icing sugar 2 tbsp boiling water 3 tbsp whisky

Method Cream together the softened butter and sieved icing sugar. Beat in the whisky and water until you have a smooth texture. Chill and then serve with Brilliantly Boozy Brixham Pud or a mince pie.

Method Place the mixed fruit and chopped prunes in a bowl.

Finely grate a whole orange and then squeeze the juice out into the bowl. Pour over the alcohol, mix together and leave overnight to sop in. The next day add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly. Transfer the mixture to a greased 1.5 litre pudding bowl. If it comes with a lid put this on, otherwise cover the top with a double layer of tin foil and tie a piece of string around the side of the bowl. Place the bowl in a large saucepan and pour in enough water to come half way up the sides.Simmer for 3 hours checking at all times that there is enough water in the saucepan.

Once ready, either set alight with the spirit of your choice and serve with whisky butter or place aside in a cool cupboard for when you need it. Remember this is a seriously boozy pudding so no driving after consumption please! englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 41

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Café Sonic by reader Ash Jeyes

Festive Food & Drink

This is a wonderfully refreshing and energising cocktail – it’s a great way to get started on round two of the Christmas festivities after the carb coma of the main meal!

Ingredients 1 part cold brew coffee 1 part Red Sails Brixham Gin 2 parts Fever Tree tonic 1 sprig rosemary Method Fill your glass with ice. Pour in one part gin over the ice. Pour over one part cold brew coffee (if you don’t have access to cold brew then use espresso that has chilled in the fridge. Finally, add the tonic with a spring of rosemary for the scent.

Jingle Ale

by Bays Brewery It wouldn’t be Christmas without a refreshing glass of Bays Brewery’s jolly Jingle Ale. Ask for it at the pub or pop into the brewery in Paignton for a tasting!

baysbrewery.co.uk

Classic Gin & Tonic

If your preference is for a more traditional gin and tonic then Red Sails Brixham Gin has the recipe for you.

Distilled in small batches at The Old Sail Loft in Brixham’s Overgang Road it offers a fresh coastal flavour with a smooth citrus finish. Beautifully packaged and capturing the famous red sails of Brixham it has warm floral tones with exotic spices and locally grown botanicals to complement the aromatic juniper and citrus taste.

Try serving Red Sails Brixham Gin with two cubes of ice, a slice of lime, a sprig of rosemary and a dash of tonic.

Or for the gin connoisseur serve neat with just one cube of ice and savour the flavour.

01803 857873

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 43

A walk in the Parke...

A

s autumn stretches into what once would have been well and truly winter time, the National Trust’s Parke Estate at Bovey Tracey makes a great place to explore. It has a wide range of historical features, restored buildings, a working walled garden, woodland and riverside walks plus a lovely café to relax in once you’re done.

On arrival you can pick a leaflet, which has an illustrated map detailing three routes of varying lengths to choose from for your walk. On our visit we leave the car park and go downhill to the walled garden and National Trust shop, then take the medium route. This leads us west up through the wooded hillside above the River Bovey, affording spectacular views over the treetops towards the town of Bovey Tracey and beyond. The trail continues to the far edge of the grounds before dropping down to the riverside. The river is spanned by a wooden footbridge and there is a choice to follow, the riverside path or old railway line heading east and back to the estate house.

We choose to follow the pretty riverside path with its relaxing sunny glades. The river has a medieval weir, which once supplied a leat to power the local mill and still provides

44 | December/January 2018/19

water to the rich grazing pasture on the Parke Estate.

The path crosses back over the river to return to the 19th century house and there’s an interesting selection of trees in the park grounds that sprawl eastward in front of the house.

The route returns you to the car park just a stone’s throw away from the pretty café courtyard where a cuppa and a good selection of cake rounds off a good walk.

Need to know Distance - various Exertion - easy, gentle slopes Time - 45 minutes walking plus at least 1 hour admiring the scenery and exploring Terrain - woodland and gravel paths Dogs - Under close control near livestock Refreshments - café open 10am-4pm October Easter, 10am - 5pm rest of year Accessibilty - robust pushchairs. An all terrain mobility scooter can be hired Parking - usual National Trust rates apply Start Postcode - TQ13 9JQ

Walk

Š National Trust

englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 45

Relax & Rejuvenate

Wintertime, especially in the run-up to Christmas and in the New Year is the perfect time to look after yourself and indulge in some serious pampering.

These local spas, salons and wellness providers will have you feeling wonderful in no time!

Aztec Spa - Torquay Escape completely from your day-to-day routine.

Relax, refresh, and revive with a range of luxury ELEMIS and OPI treatments in the tranquil surroundings of the Aztec Spa, Torquay.

An Aztec Spa Day is a perfect pick-me-up for the cold winter months. Pick a choice of treatment, use the pool facilities and relaxation area, plus a lunch or afternoon tea in the Aztec Bistro, all for only £45.

01803 400190 Falkland Road, Torquay TQ2 5JJ tlh.co.uk/aztec-spa

Willow Well-being You are totally unique, it’s why we believe your treatments should be too. We are the only salon in Devon offering the CACI Non-Surgical Face Lift and Crystal Clear COMCIT, to provide you with the most effective facial solutions. Along with our beauty experts, you can rest assured of a visit like no other. Quote ‘riviera’ when booking to receive 25% off your first treatment. We can’t wait to welcome you…

01803 605260 | info@willowwellbeing.com 38 Walnut Road, Chelston, Torquay, TQ2 6HS willowwellbeing.com cf 46 | December/January 2018/19

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December/January 2018/19 | 47

Advertisement Feature

Bonny

December &around January the Bay Coleton Aglow - Coleton Fishacre 30 November, 1 & 2, 7-9, 14-16, 19-24 & 27-31 December

Discover Coleton Fishacre in a new light; the house and garden are lit for an opulent 1920s Christmas party. The illuminated route leads you around the garden and inside to see the festivities of the house decorated for a 1920s Christmas party.You’ll be able to try on your party outfit in the handling room, listen to party music playing in the saloon and soak up the opulent atmosphere. In the garden you’ll be able to see the house, trees and exotic features bathed in festive light as you follow the circular route. Please dress warmly and bring a torch. The garden is steep in places.

A shorter accessible route is available or you can enjoy the full 45-minute walk. Dogs on leads welcome. Time: 5.308pm, tickets: adult £12, child £6, family (2/2) £30, group discounts (15 people). Booking essential.

Coleton Fishacre, Brownstone Road, Kingswear. TQ6 0EQ 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre

a myriad of lights and feature displays. The train itself forms part of this dazzling display lit with thousands of lights that reflect on the steam from the locomotive, transforming the 450-yard Greenway Tunnel into a mesmerizing technicolour experience. After a brief stop in Kingswear, you’ll experience the return trip – overall a 90-minute experience. Tickets for the popular Santa Express are also now available.

Queen’s Park Station, Paignton TQ4 6AF dsrrbchristmas.co.uk

Winter Wonderland Grotto, Torquay On till 24 December

Rotary’s grotto welcomes visitors of all ages to Fleet Walk for a spectacular, sparkling festive wonderland.

Experience this amazing display, which every year welcomes thousands of visitors through its door and raises thousands of pounds for local Rotary charities. The grotto is run by local Rotary Club volunteers.

Fleet Walk Shopping Centre, Torquay TQ2 5EA

The Christmas Train of Lights

Christmas at Cockington Court

Selected dates in December

Book early for Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Boat Company’s brand-new, super-magical Devon Train of Lights. This genuinely breath-taking illuminated journey will transport you from Paignton to Kingswear on the banks of the River Dart where the ancient woodland will be lit by 48 | December/January 2018/19

1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 December

Every weekend in December there will be pop-up family activities with music and craft activities to enjoy. It’s the perfect occasion to visit the galleries and craft studios to find unique, handmade gifts from a wide range of high quality

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Riviera What’s On makers. You can also sample delicious treats in the tearooms.

Cockington Court, Cockington Village, Torquay TQ26XA 01803 607230 cockingtoncourt.org.uk

Influenza Pandemics Past & Future 1 December

Wendy Barclay is a British virologist and Chair in Influenza Virology at Imperial College London. She leads a team of scientists studying the influenza virus and its physiology and morphology to discover novel vaccines. In particular, they are trying to understand more about influenza virus mutations, and how they can allow scientists to create new vaccines against possible flu pandemics. Time: 2.00pm-3.00pm A Torquay Museum Society Centenary Season Public Lecture. Tickets cost £4 with a 50% discount to Torquay Museum Society Members & NHS staff.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Victorian Christmas - Bygones 1-31 December

Bygones will be transformed for a traditional Victorian Christmas with a real 12ft Christmas tree, special lighting, decorations and a festive hunt. Normal entry prices apply. Meet Santa from 11am-2pm on 15 & 16 December (extra £3 per child for gift) plus gingerbread decorating. Bookings now open for breakfast, lunch or brunch with Santa on 22, 23 & 24 December.

Tickets: £10.50 each (adults & children - includes entry, the breakfast, lunch or brunch and Santa gift).

Bygones, Fore Street, St Marychurch, Torquay TQ14PR 01803 326108 bygones.co.uk

Winter Fest - Torre Abbey 1-2 December

Torre Abbey will be filled with around 30 stalls selling truly unique crafts and Christmas gifts. You can expect seasonal music, a Christmas trail and some indulgent nibbles and englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

beverages. Entry price includes entry to the Abbey. Time: 10am-5pm, tickets: £2.

Torre Abbey, The Kings Drive, Torquay TQ25JE 01803 293593torreabbey.org.uk

Create an LED Christmas Tree Workshop, Torquay 2 December

You’ll be able to use LEDs and programming language to bring your Christmas tree to life to look just like actual fairy lights. Aimed at 9-15year olds, this 2-hour session is suitable for any children who enjoy arts, crafts or electronics. 7 & 8 year olds may attend if accompanied by an adult. Otherwise adults can attend the abbey’s Winter Fest taking place on-site. Cost: £7.50 per child.

Torre Abbey, The Kings Drive, Torquay TQ25JE 01803 293593torre-abbey.org.uk

Santa in the Caves - Kents Cavern 2-24 December

Join Santa and his friends in a magical underground adventure - more than just a grotto! Join in this hour-long, panto-style adventure around the caves with some of the best Christmas characters. Your ticket includes: an hour long promenade performance; a personal visit with Santa; a fantastic Christmas present; mulled wine (adults) and mince pies. Each child (2-12) meets Santa and receives a wrapped quality present. Times: shows from 10am to 4.30pm. Prices: Adults £10 Children (2-12) £13. Presents available for under-2s at £3.50. Children must be accompanied by at least one paying adult. Book online. Discounts for members.

Kents Cavern, Ilsham Road, Torquay TQ1 2JF 01803 215136 kents-cavern.co.uk

A Baroque Christmas, Dartington 2 December

Professional South West orchestra, Devon Baroque and the Welsh Camerata choir (conductor Andrew Wilson-Dickson) perform a Baroque Christmas repertoire to whet your appetite for the festive season. Enjoy works by Buxtehude, Charpentier and the Corelli Christmas Concerto. Time: 3.15pm, tickets: £18 (students and under 18s £5) Great Hall, Dartington TQ9 6EL 01803 847070 dartington.org December/January 2018/19 | 49

Coleton Aglow - Photography Evening 3 December

This special event will allow you to get the best photos of the wonderfully illuminated gardens just as the blue hour and twilight meet.

Greeted with a mulled wine and mince pie, you will be free to explore the gardens with just the lights for company. Bring your tripods and cameras to capture the best of Coleton Aglow and experiment with night-time photography. A perfect gift for a photography enthusiast. Tickets: £15, time, 4-5.30pm, booking essential, dress warmly.

Coleton Fishacre, Brownstone Road, Kingswear. TQ60EQ 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre

Christmas Murder Mystery Night Imperial Hotel 6 & 20 December

The action begins over pre-dinner drinks followed by an exquisite three-course festive dinner. The actors will then lay the clues that you need to solve a heinous Dickensian murder.

It is up to you to investigate and accuse a suspect. Time: 7pm till late. Tickets at £40 per person include: drinks reception, three-course dinner, tea, coffee and mints, murder mystery presented by Candlelight Theatre Company plus disco.

The Imperial Hotel, Park Hill Road, Torquay TQ1 2DG 01803 294301 theimperialtorquay.co.uk

Steam and Carols 4 December

Enjoy a chartered trip with the enthusiasts of Dartmouth Steam Railway in support of Rowcroft Hospice. There will be entertainment at Queen’s Park Station by The Salvation Army Band from 5.45pm, before the trip begins at 6.40pm. Bring your own picnic and refreshments if you wish. The route goes via Churston Station, arriving at 7.10pm; the SeaGals and One Accord will perform here from 6.15pm. On Kingswear platform there will be a carol service led by Rev Blyde (bringing small folding chairs is recommended). The train will arrive back in Paignton by 9.30pm. Tickets: adults £12, children and concessions £5. Please note there is no entry or exit from Kingswear Station.

Queens Park Station, Torbay Road, Paignton TQ4 6AF 01803 843233 steamandcarols.co.uk

The Exeter Cathedral Yard Fire & Exeter’s Ancient Buildings 5 December

Dr Todd Gray, local historian & author, considers the impact of the devastating fire including the renewal of public interest in the city’s remaining historic buildings. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk 50 | December/January 2018/19

Brixham Folk Club 7 December

Share an evening of folk music, in all its wonderful varieties. The programme is organised by Anne and Steve Gill, with help from John Miles.

Admission: £3 (£2 performers) on the door.

The Old Coaching Inn, Fore Street, Brixham TQ58AG 01803 290427

1950s Pop-Up Cinema - Greenway

8, 9, 14-16, 21-24, 27, 28, 30 & 31 December A pop-up 1950s Christmas cinema at Greenway will be showing a collection of classic crime films selected by guest curator, Sophie Hannah. The pop-up cinema celebrates the golden age of film, and captures the glamour of the 1950s, complementing the fifties’ Christmas decorations

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Riviera What’s On in the house. In the foyer uniformed ushers will be selling popcorn, hot and cold drinks and sweets. At the box office you can get your vintage ticket punched and an usher will guide you into the screen, where you can settle down in your red velvet cinema seat, or a VIP Chesterfield sofa. The cinema will be fully heated, and blankets will be available to snuggle under. Booking essential Premier seats are only available to book by phone.

Greenway House, Greenway, Brixham TQ5 0ES 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway

Murder Mystery - The Curse of Amenhotep 8 December

Torquay Museum is the unique setting for an exciting and fully interactive Ancient Egyptian Murder Mystery evening. A priceless Egyptian artefact has been stolen the Stone of Amenhotep. A murder has been committed.

Is this the infamous Curse of Amenhotep or is it a robbery gone wrong? Time: 6-8pm, tickets: £25.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org

era, travelling in style aboard a brand new First Class Pullman service. A glass of bubbly will be served on arrival followed by complimentary mulled wine, mulled apple juice, hot chocolate and a selection of soft drinks during your trip. You will also be served a delicious selection of savoury and sweet canapés while you travel alongside the stunning Torbay coastline, through the countryside and along the River Dart. Father Christmas will visit during the trip with gifts for children up to 14 years.

Tickets: £35 per person.

Queen’s Park Station, Torbay Road, Paignton TQ4 6AF 01803 555872 dartmouthrailriver.co.uk

Christmas at Babbacombe Model Village 8 December - 1 January (closed 25 December)

Enjoy a visit to the Model Village with some seasonal miniature scenes plus Christmas Labyrinth Trail & 4D theatre. Santa, mini-panto and Christmas lights on selected dates (please check website for details).

Babbacombe Model Village, Hampton Avenue, Torquay TQ1 3LA 01803 315315 model-village.co.uk

Father Christmas Visits Greenway 8, 15, 22 December

Father Christmas and his helpers will be stopping off at Greenway to meet children and share keepsake gifts.

There will be some festive stories and help for little ones to write their letters to Santa, which can be popped into the Greenway post. Times: 11am-12.30pm and 1.30-3pm.

Normal admission applies, event: child £5.00. Children must be accompanied by an adult, parking must be prebooked.

Greenway House, Greenway, Brixham TQ50ES 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk

First Class Pullman Train

8 & 9, 15 & 16, 20-24 December Step aboard the historic Devon Belle this Christmas and spoil yourself with the romance of a bygone englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Santa Express

8, 9, 15, 16, 20-24 December Enjoy and exciting trip on the Santa Express. Each carriage will be decorated for Christmas and during your trip you will be entertained by close-up magic and a two-part mini pantomime to get you in the festive spirit (part one on your outward journey and part two on your return journey – about 10 minutes in total).

Santa Claus will visit you at your seat accompanied by his elves pulling a gargantuan sleigh. All children will receive a gift (up to 14 years of age). Adults receive a glass of mulled wine and festive mince pie. Wheelchair specific carriage is available for users and family. Prebooking of all tickets essential.

Queen’s Park Station, Paignton TQ4 6AF dsrrbchristmas.co.uk December/January 2018/19 | 51

Winter Bird Walk Broadsands 9 December

Brush up on your Gull, Diver and Grebe identification skills at Broadsands with local expert and bird illustrator Mike Langman. Torbay provides some great opportunities to study gulls and wintering seabirds often at close range. You’ll visit the winter Cirl bunting feeding station, which Mike started 20 years ago.

10.00am-12.30pm, cost: £8.00, suitable for: adults.

Broadsands Car Park, Paignton TQ4 6HY 01803 520022 countryside-trust.org.uk

Occombe Farm Cookery School, Preston Down Road, Paignton TQ3 1RN 01803 520022 countryside-trust.org.uk

Vigilance Annual Carol Concert, Brixham 11 December

Brixham Town Band and C of E Primary School choir will perform for everyone to sing along. Free to all with mince pies and warm fruit punch as a thank you to the people of Brixham for their support of Vigilance. Time: 7pm.

01803 669154 brixhamtownband.co.uk

Celebration of Carols and Songs, Brixham 14 December

Join the Torbay Lifeboat Fundraisers and lifeboat crew for their annual celebration of carols and songs. The Torbay Lifeboat WAGs choir is back. Time: 7-8pm.

All Saints Church, Church Street, Brixham, TQ5 8HG. 07712 221536 Torbaylifeboat.co.uk or email rnlitlf@gmail.com

Brixham Does Care Carol Concert 14 December

Enjoy a carol concert with Brixham Town Band. Time: 7pm.

Scala Hall, Brixham 01803 669154 brixhamtownband.co.uk

Gingerbread House Workshop

Joy to the World Concert, Dartmouth

Decorate your own edible gingerbread house for Christmas in this fun family workshop. Lori Reich will provide you with a gingerbread house and ideas to help you assemble and decorate your own house to take home. Bring along your own selection of sweets to decorate your house and you’ll need a couple of pairs of hands so bring a family member along. Times: 10.30am-1pm or 2-4.30pm, suitable for: all ages, cost: £22.50 for up to 3 participants to include an adult.

A celebration of Christmas music from the Baroque period, including Vivaldi’s Magnificat and excerpts from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, along with a variety of other Christmas music. Time: 7.30pm, tickets £10 (students £5) on the door. Performed by Britannia Choral Society.

St Saviour’s Church, Dartmouth, Devon, TQ6 9DH britanniachoral.co.uk

9 December

52 | December/January 2018/19

15 December

Christmas at Paignton Zoo 15, 16 & 22-24 December

Visit Paignton Zoo this Christmas for some festive fun. Meet Santa in his magical grotto and receive a present. Hop aboard the Christmas train (unless severe weather). Follow the gingerbread trail and pick up a special gift from the elves as you leave (available only for children who have booked to meet Santa). Tickets: £9.50 per child plus normal admission prices.

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Riviera What’s On Paignton Zoo, Totnes Road, Paignton TQ4 7EU 01803 697500 paigntonzoo.org.uk

Greenway’s Festive Book Club 19 December

Tots Go Wild at Christmas! – Occombe 17-21 December

Enjoy a Christmassy session with your tots for festive story telling, a Christmas trail in the garden and some Christmas crafts. Children should be dressed for outdoor weather. Cost: 5.00, suitable for: toddlers-5 yrs old, babies can come at no charge. Booking essential.

Occombe Farm Garden Yurt, Preston Down Road, Paignton TQ3 1RN 01803 520022 countryside-trust.org.uk

Showtime Special, Paignton 18 December

A splendid variety show with a range of seasoned performers offers a really enjoyable evening’s entertainment. All proceeds to Children’s Hospice South West. Time: doors open 7pm for show start at 8pm. Tickets: £10 from the hotel, in advance or on the night.

Redcliffe Hotel, Marine Drive, Paignton TQ3 2NL

Belle Voci Christmas Concert - Torre Abbey 18 December

Soprano Donna-Marie Broomfield and tenor Matthew Wilding will take you on a magical Christmas journey in the beautiful setting of the chapel at Torre Abbey.

7pm for a 7.30pm start. Tickets: £12 (£10 concessions).

The Chapel, Torre Abbey, The Kings Drive, Torquay TQ2 5JE 01803 293593 torre-abbey.org.uk englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Why not come along and enjoy mince pies and festive cheer while you relax and informally discuss a good book at Agatha Christie’s holiday home? The group will be discussing Sophie Hannah’s latest Poirot novel, ‘The Mystery of Three Quarters’. It will be helpful but not essential to have read the book. Time: 6-7.30pm, free event but booking essential.

Greenway House, Greenway, Brixham TQ50ES 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk

Breakfast with Santa, Living Coasts 20-23 December

Meet Santa at breakfast where you’ll be able to decorate and enjoy eating your very own pancakes.

Receive a gift from Santa, help make presents for the penguins, say hello to the happy elf who will deliver your gifts to the playful penguins. Time: 9-10.30am. Tickets: £15 per child (up to 2 adults per child may attend free).

Booking essential. Please note that this event takes place in the Terrace Café and does not include entry to Living Coasts. Half price entry tickets for child plus 2 adults are available on the day upon presentation of your Breakfast with Santa email.

Torquay Harbourside, Beacon Quay, Torquay TQ1 2BG 01803 202470 livingcoasts.org.uk

Thai Night - Berry Head Hotel 20 December

Get a flavour of beautiful Thailand. All you can eat Thai buffet for £14.50 per person. Booking essential.

Berry Head Hotel, Berry Head Road, Brixham TQ5 9AJ 01803 853225 berryheadhotel.com December/January 2018/19 | 53

A Night at the Movies with Sophie Hannah, Greenway 20 December

Stepping into Greenway’s 1950s-styled, pop-up (fully heated) cinema, you’ll be greeted with canapés and mulled wine while festive music plays. Once settled into your vintage cinema seat, Sophie Hannah will discuss her film choices for the cinema and her writing, including her latest book, Mystery of the Three Quarters. Then enjoy a screening of Bunny Lake is Missing. After the film Sophie Hannah will be signing copies of her book and the bar will re-open. Time: 6-10.30pm. Ticket prices: Adult £35.00, Adult Premier seat £40.00, suitable for: adults only. Dress: 50s best or smart casual.

Greenway House, Greenway, Brixham TQ5 0ES 01803 842382 nationaltrust.org.uk

Meet the Mischief-Making Grinch, Torquay 22, 23, 27 & 28 December

Enjoy a storytelling performance with the Grinch, festive trails and Christmas decoration-making. The hugely talented Devon-based Pocketwatch Theatre Company will entertain all ages with The Grinch Story – an interactive performance featuring a storyteller, the Grinch and puppetry. Times: 12.30 and 2.30pm.

Tickets: £7 adults, £5 children (museum entry free when booking this event).

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Trust 10 Run - Coleton Fishacre 23 December

A free monthly National Trust 10k trail run along the rugged South West Coast Path and through Coleton Fishacre garden. Free, fun, informal, forever and for everyone. The run is two loops so there is the option for a 5k run.

Coleton Fishacre, Brownstone Road, Kingswear TQ6 0EQ 01803 843235 nationaltrust.org.uk

The Holly Ball 21 December

Promising a night of glamour, stunning ball gowns, sharp tuxes, grandeur and sophistication. The best live bands and music will have you dancing the night away!

Tickets: £27 (includes a glass of fizz – up to 10.30pm), over 18s only, strictly black tie with ankle length dresses for ladies. Food not included but will be on sale. Bands include: The Loose Cannons Band and The Smooth Operators.

Grand Hotel, Sea Front, Torquay TQ2 6NT torquayrowingclub.co.uk/hollyball

Santa Claws Christmas Special – Torquay’s Dinosaur World

22, 23, 27-31 December & 2-6 January Visit the dinosaurs in their winter homeland, get up close and personal with these amazing creatures, discover incredible fossils, and take the Santa Claws Christmas Quiz to win your present from the dinosaurs – a FREE bag of 160-million-year-old fossils. Times: 11am – last entry at 3.30pm (close 5pm).

Dinosaur World, Victoria Parade, Torquay TQ1 2BB 01803 298779 torquaysdinosaurworld.co.uk

54 | December/January 2018/19

Christmas Eve at the Berry Head 24 December

Celebrate the festivities with a Raspberry Bellini, canapés and live music from Margaret Duffy followed by a 4-course candlelit dinner. Tickets: £36 per person. Or join a Christmas Eve Bar Party for a drink or dinner in the brasserie then join Eddie on the piano for carols and singalong from 9pm. Christmas day lunch and evening events also available.

Berry Head Hotel, Berry Head Road, Brixham TQ5 9AJ 01803 853225 berryheadhotel.com

Boxing Day Dip, Torquay 26 December

The Boxing Day Dip is an annual event organized by No. 200 (Torquay & Brixham) Squadron Air Training Corps.

Participants take part in aid of raising funds for the unit as well as another chosen charity. This year Tormohun

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Riviera What’s On (Torquay) Rotary Charities will benefit with proceeds divided equally between both organisations. Time: 10.30am, ready to enter the sea at 11.00am. Tasteful fancy dress is encouraged. Public participation welcome, no cost.

Torre Abbey Sands, Torquay TQ2 5DG 200sqn.co.uk

Museum Society Public Lecture. Tickets: £4 with a 50% discount to Torquay Museum Society Members & NHS Staff.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Training the Afghan Army 8 January

Paignton Lions Club Walk into the Sea 26 December

Commencing at 12noon, Paignton Lions Club Boxing Day Walk in to the Sea started 26 December, 1976 and from what was a ‘one-off’ it has been a major Christmas holiday attraction ever since. Numerous charities benefit from the annual event. Entry: £10.00 adults, £5.00 under-18s in advance or on the day. Registration from 11.15am on Paignton Beach by the pier. Fancy dress judging at 11.45am.

Paignton Sands, Esplanade Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6BW paigntonlions.org.uk/links

Alexander Allan, author of: Afghanistan: a Tour of Duty, recalls his time as a Grenadier Guards officer in Afghanistan.

Expect stories of courage and endurance. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Horses in Art 9 January

Society member, Roger Hamilton, follows up his last year’s Pigs in Art with this engaging talk on the horse, an enduring subject in both fine and folk art. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

New Year’s Eve Celebrations, Berry Head

Kid’s Saturday Cookery Club

Welcome in the New Year with a 3-course Gala Buffet Dinner followed by dancing to ‘Freeway’ plus a DJ plus bubbly and mince pies at midnight. Tickets: £78 or there’s a bar party with DJ for just £5. New Year’s Day carvery lunch with live jazz also available.

Berry Head Hotel, Berry Head Road, Brixham TQ5 9AJ 01803 853225 berryheadhotel.com

It’s cold outside so why not make some winter warmers? Time: 9.30am-12 noon, cost: £20.00, suitable for: 8-13 yrs. Children can be left unattended once paperwork is completed.

Occombe Farm Cookery School, Preston Down Road, Paignton TQ3 1RN 01803 520022 countryside-trust.org.uk

31 December

Exhumation of Spanish Flu Victims in the UK and Arctic Circle 5 January

A lecture on how the exhumation of Spanish Flu victims in the UK and Arctic Circle have helped us to understand the nature of this killer virus. Time: 2-3pm. A Torquay englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

12 January

December/January 2018/19 | 55

Visit

Santa Caves in the

Call us today on Torquay: 01803 215136 for more information

Book Online

www.kents-cavern.co.uk

See in a new Add things some colour to light at Coleton your weekend thisAglow autumn at Gibside

This December the house and garden are awash with festive light. The illuminated route leads you around the garden and inside seeandthe festivities Go crunching through fallento leaves discover a forest teeming wildlifedecorated and autumn colours, withopulent walking of thewith house for an routes for all ages and abilities.

1920s Christmas party.

nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside Call 01803 842382 for details nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre to book When youvisit, visit, donate, volunteer join the National Trust, When you donate, volunteer or joinor the National Trust, your your support usafter to look after special places in <like the English support helps ushelps to look special places <in the region> Riviera as Coleton Fishacre, ever, propertysuch X, property Y and Proeprty Z>for in for ever,for foreveryone. everyone. © National Trust 2018. The National Trust is an © National Trust 2016. The National Trust is an independent independent registered charity, number 205846. registered charity, number 205846. Photography © National Trust Photography © National Trust Images\Tony Cobley.

Images.

56 | December/January 2018/19

#nationaltrust #nationaltrust

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Riviera What’s On Lydford & the Stannary Laws 15 January

Enjoy a talk by Simon Dell MBE. The Dartmoor National Park guide & author will discuss the tin mining laws & evoke the harsh lives of the Dartmoor tinners. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Devon Hedgerows 16 January

Society member, Roger Avery, shares his knowledge and his enthusiasm for this hugely important and defining feature of the Devon landscape. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45amnoon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Stone Age School, Kents Cavern 19 January

The hugely popular Stone Age School is back! January session is Stone Age Fire Maker. Arguably one of the most important survival skills, Stone Age people mastered a number of different fire making techniques.

Can you use a bow drill to make fire by friction? Time: 5-7pm, tickets: £7, booking essential. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Ilsham Road, Torquay TQ1 2JF 01803 215136 kents-cavern.co.uk

Bird Watch Day 20 January

Learn how to identify 10 or more of our most common birds at a birdwatch talk with expert Mike Langman. Time: 1pm. Cost: £2. There is then a guided walk at 2pm (separate tickets), cost: adult £3, children £1.50, suitable for: 6yrs+ (children must be accompanied by a paying adult). The day englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

also includes craft activities – drop in anytime from 11am-3pm (donations/no booking).

Cockington Visitor Centre, Cockington Village, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 6XA 01803 520022 countrysidetrust.org.uk

Flags: History in the Wind 22 January

Flags are powerful symbols of communal identity & objects of huge historical significance. Andre explores the ways in which flags embody historical narrative & shows how a flag may be ‘read’. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Coffee Morning, Churston 23 January

Join the Torbay Lifeboat fundraisers at a sociable coffee morning with homemade cakes and raffle available. Time: 10am-12 noon.

The Weary Ploughman, Dartmouth Road, Churston Ferrers TQ5 0LL. 07716 117875. torbaylifeboat.co.uk or email rnlitlf@gmail.com

Cold War Warrior 23 January

Sir Jonathon Tod describes his progress from cadet to Deputy Commander-In-Chief of the Fleet, all delivered with panache, humour & style. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: nonmembers £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk December/January 2018/19 | 57

CHRISTMAS OUS

WORLD FAM

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Open All Year (e xcept Dec 25th)

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Babbacom

Special dates in December

Check out www.model-village.co.uk/events for details Babbacombe Model Village, Hampton Avenue, Torquay, TQ1 3LA

58 | December/January 2018/19

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Riviera What’s On The Story of the Solar System, Exeter 27 January

Following a sell-out Bristol performance, the smash-hit live show, The Story of the Solar System, lands in Exeter in January. Astronomer Will Gater explores how the planets came to be and how they were transformed from points of light to familiar worlds – worlds we’ve now examined up-close with robotic rovers and orbiting spacecraft. With live demos bringing to life some of the science of the Solar System and spectacular astronomical imagery throughout, this promises to be one story you won’t forget soon. Time: 7.30pm.

Exeter Phoenix Auditorium, Bradninch Place, Gandy Street, Exeter EX4 3LS 01392 667080 exeterphoenix.org.uk

Clarkson Rose: Fifty Years of Seaside Entertainment 29 January

In his one-man show, Brian Freeland brilliantly captures the high tide of seaside entertainment in his evocation of Clarkson Rose & his partner Olive, who delighted audiences with their show, ‘Twinkle’, for almost 50 years. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture. Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: nonmembers £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Paignton Picture House: The First Hundred Years 30 January

Paignton Picture House, one of the oldest purposebuilt cinemas in Europe, closed in 1999. Anthony Hill tells the remarkable story of its 85 years as a working cinema. A Torquay Museum Society Public Lecture.

Time: 10.45am-noon, cost: non-members £5.

Torquay Museum, 529 Babbacombe Road, Torquay TQ1 1HG 01803 293975 torquaymuseum.org.uk

Holding an event in February or March?

E-mail us at editorial@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk and we’ll list it in the next issue englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 | 59

ArtsRoundUp

We bring you a roundup of arts events and workshops happening locally.

Latest from Torquay’s Artizan Gallery The Artizan Winter Open 20 November-24 December Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm.

Artizan Permanent Collection December by appointment

Held as a Pop Up Exhibition in Torquay, The Artizan Winter Open follows the successful Summer Open, which featured 60 artists and saw strong sales. These two open exhibitions organised by family-run Artizan Gallery sit alongside substantial commitments to visual arts from other Torbay institutions. Torre Abbey curated two extensive open exhibitions which brought together local art societies under one roof for first time and helped promote the Bay as an enticing destination for this year’s Devon Open Studios event. Additionally, Torquay Boys Grammar School hosted the Torbay Art Show, the Bay’s first-ever professional art fair, which welcomed high profile artists from across Devon. Julie Brandon, owner of Artizan Gallery says, “The Artizan Winter Open will conclude a year that has been a real turning point for Torbay and we hope that this strong position will be maintained in the year ahead.”

Artizan holds a permanent collection of selected works by artists Arthur Homeshaw and Richard Slater. During December these works can be viewed by appointment at the main gallery in Torquay’s Lucius Street.

Venue: Unit 5, Fleet Walk, Torquay TQ2 5EB

60 | December/January 2018/19

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Arts Artizan January Exhibition 14-28 January Monday-Friday 12-6pm, Saturday 10am-4pm Featuring the works of South West artists: Kirsteen Titchener, Jo West, Martin Dutton, Susan Cavaliere and FG Davis. The show will offer a variety of works over multiple mediums.

Hendra introduces the 18th century carpenter’s boy who is buried in St. Paul’s. His legacy is found across the world but very few people have ever heard of him. Time: 2.15pm, visitors welcome, cost: £8.

The Peter Larkin Hall, St Matthias Church Centre, Babbacombe Rd Torquay TQ1 1HW 01803 298440/311648 torbay.theartssociety.org

Artist Private View 19 January 6-8pm Pop in and enjoy this January Exhibition preview evening with a complimentary glass of wine and exclusive preview evening commission reductions, should you be in the mood to buy.

Stanza Extravaganza 17 December & 29 January With monthly poetry at Artizan Gallery welcoming a wealth of local talent and national headliners, Stanza Extravaganza is a real highlight of the Torbay poetry scene. With regular hosts Robert Garnham and Becky Nuttall at the helm, these events are always guaranteed to be a night of wonderful whimsy!

Doors Open 7pm Performance 7.30pm.

Acoustic Night 10 December Curated by the fabulous Robert Spence, the Artizan Acoustic Sessions are, an unplugged, open-mic evening of laidback music and melody featuring talented local performers and exciting guest sets.

Doors open 7pm, performance 7.30pm.

All at: 7 Lucius Street, Torquay, TQ2 5NZ 01803 428626/07522 509642 juliebrandon@artizangallery.co.uk artizan gallery.co.uk f artizangallery Also check out art-hub.co.uk

Other Great Arts Events Lectures - The Arts Society, Torbay 13 December & 10 January The December lecture is Sing We Yule, a musical portrait of a medieval Christmas with medieval harp, psaltery, hammered dulcimer and more, by Sarah Deere-Jones. In January, Viv englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Images & Imagination, Torre Abbey 19 January until 31 March (Tuesday-Sunday) Browse an exhibition of stunning images by Torbay Photographic Society. Entry is Included in the normal admission fee.

Torre Abbey, Kings Drive, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 5JE torre-abbey.org.uk

Two-Day Painting Workshops, Dartington 4 & 5, 11 & 12 December, 8 & 9, 15 & 16, 22 & 23 January These two day oil and acrylic painting workshops with Matthew Davison include: demonstrations, exercises in drawing and en plein air painting. Develop your skills through use of observation, imagination, atmosphere and personal response. Exploring a range of more advanced practical techniques, concepts and art history.

Materials list provided on booking. Time: 10am-4pm, cost: £120.

The Shippon Artists Studios, Dartington Hall TQ9 6EL matthewdavison.com/painting-workshops/

Stone Sculpture Courses, Dartington Courses start 8 January (Tuesdays) or 9 January (Wednesdays) Experienced tutor artist Maria Moorhouse is offering 12 sessions of 3 hours per week. Times: 9.30am-12.30pm or 1.15-4.15pm, cost: £210.

The Shippon Artists Studios (Studio 40), Dartington Hall TQ9 6EL sculptworks.co.uk December/January 2018/19 | 61

Treading the boards... the editor’s pick of local theatre

Babbacombe Theatre

Little Theatre, Torquay

Celebrating the festive season, Christmas Crackers is a traditional variety show packed with great performers, superb choreography, delightful music, inspirational lighting and fabulous costumes. Song, dance, comedy, magic, sparkle and fun are among the crackers’ treats exploding onto the stage for a brilliant evening out.

In what is considered to be Alan Ayckbourn’s funniest play, half a dozen friends and family are celebrating Christmas with Neville and Brenda; but peace and goodwill don’t last long. Squabbles break out and with too much alcohol and some annoying mechanical toys it’s a recipe for a truly dysfunctional Christmas! A TOADS season production.

Box Office 01803 299330 Editor’s pick SEASON’S GREETINGS 17-22 December

Box Office 01803 328385 Editor’s pick CHRISTMAS CRACKERS On till 1 January

Palace Theatre, Paignton

Also worth seeing…

Nobody’s Perfect 14-19 January Tickling the Ivories 20 January

Box Office 01803 665800 Editor’s pick MOTHER GOOSE 20 December-2 January

Paignton Pantomime Productions are winners of the NODA ‘Best Pantomime’ in the South West award in 2014 & 2017. With a hilarious professional script, a live 5-piece professional band, fabulous costumes, wonderful sets, great dance routines and a highly talented cast, Mother Goose promises to be an amazing show.

Also worth seeing…

Christmas at the Ritz 12 & 13 December Jack & the Beanstalk 6 January

Brixham Theatre

Box Office 01803 415987 Editor’s pick MACBETH 18 & 19 January South Devon Players presents a dramatic new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Performing the original text, the play is set in an imagined post-World War III, near future wasteland. The dramatic production design provides a hint of the supernatural with dramatic lighting and immersive soundscapes. Also playing at Torquay Museum on 1 & 2 February.

Also worth seeing…

The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe 1 & 2 December 62 | December/January 2018/19

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Theatre

Princess Theatre, Torquay

TWO-FOR-ONE

Box Office 0844 8713023 Editor’s pick ROYAL MARINES CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2 December

THEATRE TICKET OFFER*

The world famous Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines and their Corps of Drums presents a military music spectacular featuring festive music, military marches, big band hits and popular showstoppers.

Also worth seeing…

BSO New Year Johann Strauss Gala 11 January Sleeping Beauty 14 December - 6 January

Wednesdays 5th & 12th December 2.30pm & 8.15pm Wednesday 19th December 2.30pm Boxing Day, Wednesday 26th December 12 Noon & 3pm Friday 28th December 3pm New Year’s Day, Tuesday 1st Jan 12 Noon & 3pm Tickets: £22, Seniors £20, Children (-16) £11 Boxing Day & New Year’s Day £23/£21/£12 Online booking incurs a £2 per ticket transaction fee

RANKED #1 ««««« *Visit or call the Box Office and present this voucher when collecting your tickets for two-for-one entry to see

Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth Box Office 01803 839530 Editor’s pick ROHLIVE THE NUTCRACKER 3 December

Clara is given an enchanted Nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve. As midnight strikes, she creeps downstairs to find a magical adventure awaiting her and her Nutcracker. Lev Ivanov’s 1892 ballet combined with Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous, iconic score are presented in a festive period setting with vivid designs to make this a charming and magical production.

Also worth seeing…

Dartmouth Orchestra Christmas Concert 10 December Aladdin, The Dartmouth Players 28-31 December englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

*THIS OFFER IS ONLY APPLICABLE FOR THE PERFORMANCES ON 12th, 19th & 28th December & against the FULL ticket price of £22.

Name: Email: Postcode: Performance Date:

This information will not be passed on to a third party and only filed SECURELY until the performance date by the venue. We are taking contact details in the event any changes are made to the scheduled performance & we need to contact you. WANT TO OPT IN TO OUR MAILING LIST? Refer to the venue’s website.

T&Cs: - Based on the full ticket price of £22 and only redeemable with this voucher when presented to the venues Box Office at time of booking. Valid only for the dates specified to see CHRISTMAS CRACKERS. Usual ticket prices: £22, Seniors £20, here if you wish to apply. be added to ourcan mailing listfor up to four Children Tick £11. No other concessions This voucher be used transactions against any one date. Not redeemable against tickets already sold, online bookings or group bookings. No photocopies accepted. This voucher must be redeemed no later than 2pm on Friday 28th December. TQ/EX RESIDENTS ONLY.

£2

Box Office (01803) 328385 December/January 2018/19 | 63

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all that

and blues, world music,

JAZZ folk...

David Walden is bringing live music to Torbay with his newly named, independent jazz club Fougou Jazz, which is based at Churston Golf Club.

Julian Rees goes along to the launch event.

F

ougou Jazz is the new name for SpeakEasy Torquay, which used to meet at the Toorak Hotel. It’s part of David Walden’s new Fougou Music brand. This evening, I’m meeting him at Churston Golf Club for the relaunch event, which is featuring San Franciscobased Grammy award-winning jazz superstar Paul McCandless and his band Charged Particles.

David is on a mission to bring top quality jazz, blues, world music and folk to a Torbay audience. It’s a one-man mission too I realise, as when I arrive he’s busy setting up the sound equipment and getting ready for the musicians to sound check. It’s not just local musicians that David promotes (although there are plenty); he also features regional acts and impressive international touring acts.

When the sound check is complete, we sit down for a chat before the club’s doors open. David tells me that there aren’t many jazz venues between Bristol and St Ives, the latter renowned for its St Ives Jazz Club – the last club before New York! Because of this he often manages to snag some ‘big fish’ jazz players passing through on national tours.

David explains the background to today’s launch of Fougou Jazz. He previously worked with co-promotor Colin Edwards for six years at the jazz club Speakeasy Torquay. However, this year he has branched out on his own with a new venue and an exciting new brand,

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What’s On

all with the objective of promoting a broader range of music. He tells me that his love of jazz is life-long and that the music of internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and composer Mike Westbrook, who grew up in Torquay in the 1950s, was his first album. Mike, now in his eighties, still performs regularly around the world and at Fougou Jazz!

As well as jazz, David is also working on a project entitled Musical Crossovers, to be hosted at the Palace Theatre in Paignton. This will feature contemporary musicians who mix elements of blues, folk, world music, jazz and other genres, taking music from the known and predictable into new and exciting listening experiences.

David also has a weekly jazz spot on Riviera FM, which you can hear on Thursday nights between 9 and 11pm.

While we’ve been chatting, a crowd has gathered for this evening’s session. David is happy with the turnout and Paul McCandless & Charged Particles start to play. This is a huge treat for jazz-lovers and the stunning performance is quite mesmerizing. The venue is comfortable and relaxing and the acoustics are excellent. I’ve always been keen on live music but confess to having little experience of jazz. Now I’m finding the melodies and tempo totally infectious and I think I could well be hooked. Why not pop along? fougoumusic.com

Up Next: Fougou Jazz - Julien Marga Quartet Wednesday 5 December 2018 8pm Churston Golf Club Musical Crossovers - Sarah Gillespie Saturday 26 January 2019 7.30pm Palace Theatre, Paignton December/January 2018/19 65

Space to grow

southdevon.ac.uk | 08000 380 123

Education

South Devon College

Bright Sparks!

Students from South Devon College have been making waves nationally with their innovative ideas and creative plans.

No Slip Ups from Lucy Rees

Former Yacht Operations student Lucy Rees has recently seen her degree project published in Footwear Science. Compiled alongside the efforts of Sue Rodway-Dyer and David Peart, Lucy’s full project title, ‘Interactions between marine footwear and common Vessel Decks’ delves into an area of marine safety previously lacking in necessary research. The project was completed throughout the duration of her two year FdSC Yacht Operations course at the University Centre South Devon (UCSD), and involves practices such as measuring the grip interactions between marine footwear and common vessel deck surfaces using variable inclining planes.

Charlotte Wows WordSkills UK

Level 3 Health and Care student Charlotte Heal, aged 17 from Torquay, successfully gained entry to the WorldSkills UK final. Charlotte’s success story first started after gaining first place at the regional heats for Health and Social Care hosted at the South and City College Birmingham in May. She scored amongst the top 8 regional competitors at the heat gaining entry to the national finals later this year.

Upon completion of her course, Charlotte intends to progress her studies onto university to study Adult Nursing. englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Marcus Among the CyberStart Elite Two of South Devon College’s top flying Level 3 Computing students have been awarded an invitation to the HM Government backed Cyber Discovery Elite event in London. Both students, including Marcus Bailey (pictured) excelled in the first three stages of the programme and succeeded in reaching the ‘CyberStart Elite’ final stage.

Jake’s Formula One Dream

Former student Jake Cronk in has earned the acclaimed Whitworth Scholarship from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). Driven by his ambition to become a motorsport engineer plus his love for Formula 1, Jake from Torquay, has shown exceptional progression in the mechanical engineering field.

Earlier this year Jake fulfilled a lifelong dream in completing a work placement with the Mercedes Formula 1 team, working alongside world-class engineers and Formula 1 world champions Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. After studying Marine Engineering at South Devon College, Jake completed an apprenticeship and progressed on to the University of Plymouth to Study MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering. southdevon.ac.uk December/January 2018/19 67

Devon Freewheelers, sometimes known as The Blood Bikes is a Devon charity whose essential work goes on behind the scenes.

Julian Rees meets charity founder and CEO Daniel Lavery to find out more. driver and was told it was a volunteer. The fact that a volunteer had played such a large part in saving his wife’s life weighed heavily on his mind, and on returning to Devon he decided to get involved with the local service. ’m meeting Daniel Lavery in Paignton; he’s on his way What he discovered was that over the last 20 years there back to the charity’s Honiton HQ after giving a talk had been 4 attempts to establish a blood bike service for to a community group in Brixham. Daniel, the founder Devon but all had failed due to the particular logistical and CEO of Devon Freewheelers, tells me there’s always problems that the county presents. In particular the huge a great requirement for volunteer speakers to make fluctuations in population during the holiday periods, the presentations to local groups and businesses about the geographical anomalies of the county (principally having work of the charity.

Dartmoor right in the middle), its extensive road network He says that the charity is often referred to as the and the large number of cottage hospitals in remote towns ‘Hidden Heroes’ as its vehicles - motorcycles and cars and villages. Still spurred on by the mental image of that must sport similar livery to other authority-specification volunteer, Daniel felt compelled to start a new service vehicles such as Police and Ambulance Service vehicles to and after 4 years of researching and planning he finally keep them safe and regulated. The only visible difference sold his home to fund the is the colour of the first bikes, left his job and chequered strip running The fact a volunteer had played such started Devon Freewheelers along the sides of the a large part in saving his wife’s life in 2009. vehicles that denotes weighed heavily on his mind, and on The services that the their function. This returning to Devon he decided to get charity provides are in part means that as they whizz involved with the local service. covered in larger hospitals by traffic making their

by NHS courier services but generally only during normal urgent deliveries, most people consider them to be part working hours. Out-of-hours the only option available of the regular emergency services rather than totally is an expensive taxi. In the early days it was this out-ofunfunded volunteers providing a very necessary service. hours work that made up the majority of the charity’s Daniel tells me that the charity has recently been jobs. Demand has grown steadily over the years and today reclassified as a CIO (Charitable Incorporated the charity receives on average 16 calls per day and during Organisation) and that 2019 brings its tenth anniversary the busiest periods, generally bank holidays, where the year. He goes on to tell me the story of how it all began. counties population can rise by 250,000, to well over 100 Back in 2005 Daniel and his wife Shelley, who was calls in a 24hr period. heavily pregnant, were visiting his mother in Belfast when Originally the bikes carried blood products between Shelley was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital for blood banks in Plymouth and Exeter to outlying hospitals an emergency procedure which resulted in her needing but now it provides a far greater range of services. On 7 blood transfusions and a six-month stay in hospital. a callout a Freewheelers rider can expect to be carrying: During the emergency procedure, Daniel was taking a blood for transfusions, patient notes, emergency break outside the hospital when a bike arrived and the medicines between hospitals or even direct to patients in rider rushed into the hospital. As Daniel went back inside their homes plus tissue samples for testing. The charity he heard the rider mention his wife’s name as he delivered owns and maintains a fleet of 22 vehicles and they’re not his package. Daniel asked whether this was an ambulance

I

“

68 | December/January 2018/19

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Charities & Volunteering Daniel Lavery takes his turn on one of the charityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bikes

only bikes. In more recent years the charity has chosen to increase its physical carrying capacity to accommodate the transport requirements of the organ transplant service.

This ranges from urgent tissue samples sent to match donors, to the actual donor organs and even patients awaiting transplant operations. On occasion this sees the local drivers travelling to specialist centres as far afield as Papworth in Cambridgeshire and further. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the only volunteer service in the UK to be able to do this.

Daniel says that the ratio of urgent and non-urgent calls has changed dramatically as the service has expanded its capabilities. The service is especially busy within the Bay as it supplies blood products to the South Devon Kidney Unit in Kingskerswell. The service also works with other local emergency charities supplying blood products to both Devon Air Ambulance and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

Another vital and emotive area the charity supports is the provision of donor breast milk for premature babies, which involves travel to either Bristol or Southampton to the nearest breast milk banks.

Daniel says that after almost ten years of being entirely funded by the public that the charityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent CIO classification means that there may be more grant funding englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Volunteers accepting donations for the charity

Torbay volunteers riders taking their turn at fundrasing on Babbacombe Downs December/January 2018/19 | 69

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Charities & Volunteering options available to them but that volunteers with skills in this field are still urgently required.

The charity’s structure now consists of 5 employed staff, 2 fundraisers and 80 volunteers. It covers Devon’s extensive road network with 4 teams, Torbay is part of the South unit and has 9 volunteers in the Bay. Each riding or driving volunteer will have completed a two week intensive blue-light driving course at a cost of almost £2,500, Daniel tells me that on many occasions this has been paid by the volunteers themselves. They then specify their available days, collect a vehicle from the local depot then wait at home for the next call. Every vehicle and rider is linked to a computer-aided dispatch system that both tracks and directs the vehicle on its journey just like any other emergency service vehicle.

Daniel is very proud of what the charity and its team has achieved and tells me that they won the Emergency Services Category in the 2017 Pride of Devon Award and a Gold Emergency Services Award in the Outstanding Care Awards for Devon & Cornwall in 2018. He wanted accreditation on the quality of the service with the Care Quality Commission but as they don’t deal directly with patients he instead had to find another quality service. This culminated in the charity gaining the ISO 9001 quality standard for blood and transplant services which Daniel proudly tells me is a first for any similar voluntary service in the UK.

Get involved...

Devon Freewheelers has many opportunities for volunteers for this invisible service; they suggest some ways you could help: Fundraisers - could you help organise an event or support the public in running or publicising an event?

We also need box collectors to distribute and collect in all areas of the county.

Control Radio Operators - working from home utilising your computer you could maintain communications and tracking of our lone workers using an emergency services standard communications system.

Qualified Motorcycle Mechanics - use your skills to help us bring our maintenance in-house at our workshop in Honiton.

Response Riders & Drivers - you will need an IAM, RoSPA or equivalent qualification and be available for a minimum of 12 hours per month. All our riders are also fundraisers.

Resources Facilitators - are you experienced in making grant funding applications? Devon Freewheelers currently receives no grant funding so this is an area where the right person could have a huge impact.

Speakers - we receive many requests from public groups and businesses for presentations on the charity’s work. Could you give talks along with a laptop presentation to groups of 5 to 50 people?

This is a great way to meet people, maintain a role in public and corporate life in retirement and often brings great financial support to the charity.

For any volunteering role visit our website and complete the enquiry form.

As a business: Fuel - could your business provide fuel for a bike or car either by way of a regular donation or fuel card?

Vehicle Maintenance - a constant requirement on high mileage vehicles, could your business provide servicing, sponsor a local vehicle’s maintenance or provide new tyres?

Corporate sponsorship - you could nominate Devon Freewheelers as your chosen charity.

The charity operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

Regular Giving - if you’d like to support the work of the charity but don’t have spare time then you can make a one-off payment or regular donation at the website or perhaps make a legacy donation. bloodbikesdevon.org.uk December/January 2018/19 | 71

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“

What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

Gardens

John Steinbeck

A Cheery Winter Garden

Lis Wallace of Dobies of Devon brings us her top tips for brightening up the winter garden.

W

inter is often slow to arrive here in Torbay but there’s no getting away from it – winter is here! Our gardens will be looking very different now. It seems only a blink of an eye since they were flush with summer colour yet by December most will be looking rather empty and drab. Clever planting of evergreens and winter bedding can however make the winter garden look just as good.

What to Do • Give your seed trays and pots a good clean ready for spring seed sowing.

• Chit your early seed potatoes. Put them in a cool, frost free place, with plenty of light and they’ll form nice strong chits.

• Boxing Day is the traditional time for sowing onion seeds. A great excuse to slip away for some quiet time.

• If you want to force your rhubarb and thus enjoy an early crop, then pop an upturned bucket over the crown. You’ll be enjoying the forced stalks

So, if your garden is currently looking a little sparse and lack lustre then now is the time to make plans to improve it for next winter. How about a yellow-flowering mahonia to brighten that dull corner? And those empty tubs would look wonderful filled with cheerful winter pansies, bellis and wallflowers. Gardeners are nothing if not optimists – it’s all about looking and planning ahead. within 6 to 8 weeks.

• Wisteria benefits from being pruned twice a year and now is time for its winter prune. Cut all side shoots back to 2 or 3 buds, unless of course you wish to extend the area covered.

• Pinch out the tips of your autumn sown sweet peas after the second pair of leaves has formed and the result will be bushier, better performing plants.

• Keep houseplants on the dry side and in plenty of light. They won’t enjoy being too close to radiators or fires nor will they do well in a draft.

Lis’s garden includes a wide range of flowering plants but it is the veg patch and greenhouse that receive the most attention. Lis will share some of the knowledge she has gained from her father (a professional gardener) from working at Dobies and also from her own trial and error. Storm, the Jack Russell is bound to chip in now and then. That’s what terriers do! englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

December/January 2018/19 73

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Gardens Herbs One of the many positives about winter must be comfort food. Soups, stews and casseroles can brighten the gloomiest of days. And what do we need to add extra layers and depth of flavour? We need herbs, and homegrown are the freshest and therefore the best.

Many herbs can be grown indoors, all year round so grab some pots, compost and herb seeds, clear a space on the windowsill and get sowing! You’ll have tasty fresh herbs within just a few weeks.

Winter Houseplants

Diar y Dates

Central heating, radiators and log fires make our homes a pretty hostile environment for festive houseplants. So, read on for some advice as to the care and positioning needed for popular plants: Amaryllis – Whilst growing, keep warm in filtered light and turn the pot often to keep the stalk growing straight.

Water sparingly until the flower spike is well above the bulb and then water weekly. When the flower opens move to a cool position of about 15-18C. Azalea – Indoor azaleas flower in colours of white through pink and different shades of red. Cared for correctly they will bloom for several weeks and then flower in spring for several years to come. Keep them in a cool, well-lit spot and water 2 to 3 times a week, ensuring that the compost never dries out.

Jasmine - Myriads of scented white flowers will fill your home with exquisite perfume. Jasmine will flower for several weeks provided it is kept in a cool room such as an unheated conservatory or porch. Water once a week.

Christmas Cactus - This tropical cactus will bloom prolifically well into the New Year and possibly again at Easter. Keep in a well-lit position out of direct sunlight at 16-21C. Water when the surface of the soil has dried out.

Stephanotis - Originating in Madagascar this is a twining vine with pretty star-shaped flowers giving off a beautiful perfume. Being a tropical plant Stephanotis likes a humid atmosphere so will appreciate being misted regularly.

Filtered light and a cool temperature of around 13C will keep the blooms coming for several weeks.

Once your winter houseplants have stopped flowering gradually reduce watering. The faded

Torquay & District Horticultural Society

lovelies will enjoy spending the summer outside before being brought back indoors during October, in readiness for another glorious winter display.

For The Gardener The Dobies Gift for Gardeners catalogue is available now, packed with creative, garden-themed gifts ranging from indoor Christmas tree azaleas to experience days and unusual nest boxes. There really is no need to go tramping round crowded shops on a cold wet Saturday. Instead make a brew, light the fire and browse. You’ll find something for even that most-difficult-to-buy-for-person. I’m sure we all know one!

To contact Dobies please call 0844 967 0303 or email gardening@dobies.co.uk

Talks are held at 7.30pm at the Livermead House Hotel.

101 Gardening Tips - Weds 30th Jan John Harvey from Churston Farm Shop

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December/January 2018/19 75

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Guests were welcomed by TV property auctioneer Graham Barton.

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p Peter Cousens and Jodie Griffiths December/January 2018/19 | 79

BusinessBreaks... BusinessBreaks...Bu Royal British Legion Presentation Torbay Business Forum donated £500 to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal at their recent Torbay Business Festival. torbaybusinessforum.org.uk

Steve Reynolds (Chairman TBF), Colonel Gerald Arnold (President RBL Torquay Branch) and MP Kevin Foster.

Mountain Marathon

First Rung of the Legal Ladder

Budding solicitors Rebekah Bayliss and Georgia Galsworthy have climbed the first rung of the legal jobs ladder at South Devon law firm Wollen Michelmore.

They have started work as trainee solicitors on a twoyear, on-the-job training scheme; this being a standard way to qualify as a solicitor. Torquay-born Rebekah 26, attended St Cuthbert Mayne School. She took her Law Degree at Exeter University and completed her LPC and Masters at the University of Law. Georgia also completed her LPC and Masters with the University of Law. The 25-year-old grew up and went to school in Bude then studied at Plymouth University for four years.

Rebekah has started in the Torquay office in the Private Client department. Georgia Galsworthy has joined the Family department at Newton Abbot. Both trainees will move to work in other areas after three to six months.

Rachel Carter, Partner and Training Principal at Wollen Michelmore said, “Trainees are vital to the successful development of a firm as they are our future leaders.”

A 40-strong team from Linden Homes and Galliford Try has completed the mammoth Housebuilders Mountain Marathon Challenge. The team covered a gruelling 26 miles across the rugged terrain of Snowdonia in North Wales, raising over £30,000 for the Youth Adventure Trust. The Trust helps vulnerable children, aged 11 to 14 years old and gives them a chance to take part in a number of residential adventure camps. The programme enables the participants to experience success and learn to go beyond their own expectations whilst growing in confidence. Oliver Swift, Trainee Site Manager from the South West region said, “Raising such a large amount of money for such a worthwhile cause has really made two days trekking across Snowdonia in the blustering wind and rain worth it! The challenge was no mean feat so reaching the top was a great feeling of achievement.”

Rebekah Bayliss, Rachel Carter and Georgia Galsworthy

New NHS Chief

Linden Homes’ Oliver Swift

80 | December/January 2018/19

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust has announced the promotion of Liz Davenport to the post of Chief Executive. Liz has been carrying out the role on an interim basis since January 2018, having previously held the role of Chief Operating Officer for over three years, as well as being Deputy Chief Executive since 2016. During her time in Torbay, Liz has pursued her passion for service transformation and workforce and To promote your business to our readers email sales@englishrivieramagazine.co.uk

...BusinessBreaks... BusinessBreaks... culture change. She led the operational integration of Torbay Hospital with community services and adult social care, and worked with staff across the system to transform urgent and emergency care services, supporting improvement in the CQC rating to ‘good’ for these services. Liz has worked in the health and care sector for 32 years, following qualification as an Occupational Therapist in 1986. She has had a varied career in mental health, learning disability, acute, community and social care services, and came to Torbay with a wealth of previous experience at board level.

Business Support for Torbay Art Show The inaugural Torbay Art Show raised £7,000 towards the refurbishment of Torquay Boys’ Grammar School Sixth Form Centre, with over 1,000 people visiting the event. Success was largely due to the support of some prominent local businesses, including main sponsor Cavanna Homes, Tolchards, St. David’s Equine and Artizan Gallery. Headteacher, Pete Lawrence said, “The feedback on the show has been exceptionally positive and I would like to thank the sponsors for their support and, in particular, the Parents’ Association for all of their hard work which enabled the show to take place.”

Networking Directory Get involved with Torbay business!

Torbay Business Forum First Tuesday of every month 7.30am RICC Chestnut Avenue, Torquay TQ2 5LZ Contact: Angela George 07717 316641 info@torbaybusinessforum.org.uk torbaybusinessforum.org.uk @TorbayBusiness Paignton Chamber of Commerce Second Thursday of every month. (check Facebook page for venue) Contact: Dean Kelly 07399 611643 c paigntondistrictchamberofcommerce Torbay Business Network Last Friday of every month 7.30am Pierpoint Restaurant Torbay Road, Torquay, TQ2 5HA Contact: Anthony Blackaby 01803 299935 events@torbaybusinessnetwork.co.uk @TorbayBizNet Brixham Chamber of Commerce Every 2 months Tuesday 27 November 7.00pm Berry Head Hotel Berry Head Road, Brixham, TQ5 9AJ Contact: chair@brixhamchamber.co.uk @lovebrixham Want New Clients in 2019?

English Riviera Magazine Readers are looking for local products and services right now. Advertising campaigns from just £130 plus Vat per bi-monthly issue. Full design service included to get your message across.

Call Anita on 01803 850886 for a friendly chat about advertising options or email anita@ englishrivieramagazine.co.uk for a media pack.

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December/January 2018/19 | 81

the briefing straightforward and honest legal advice to take the stress out of tough situations

Cheap Advice can cost property landlords dear...

As a lawyer I work in a heavily regulated industry matter has now been remitted back to the county and we charge for the provision of a service. There court for the matter to be re-heard. There were other are always alternative service providers in most issues with this matter as well, however, the main one professions and ours is no different. However, cheap is that if you are going to issue proceedings in court, advice can be very expensive in the long run. My then you need to do it yourself or use an appropriate main areas of work are landlord and tenant matters qualified person. Cheap advice is not always good and I attend court on a regular basis. In order to advice, and it can be very expensive advice in the appear in court, you either have to be the claimant, i.e long run. This example mainly relates to the landlord a landlord or you have to be a lawyer. and tenant, but the rules apply to all The conduct of litigation is deemed cases in court. I am not aware of any This example mainly a reserved activity and it is criminal of the local letting agents who are relates to the landlord offence for any person to carry on a qualified lawyers. Some will do the and tenant, but the reserved legal activity unless they claim forms themselves and others rules appy to all are entitled to do so. The claimant, do retain a law firm to provide this cases in court i.e. a landlord is entitled as they service for them. By using a Law are a claimant. Letting agents and firm you have access to a qualified, other service providers are not entitled to carry on insured, specialist person who can advise you the conduct of litigation, although it has been quite correctly and represent you in court if needed. common for the courts to indulge them, probably Mark Stokes is a lawyer in Wollen Michelmore’s on the assumption that they are qualified to do so. dispute resolution team. If you have any queries In one recent case, a landlord chose to use a very relating to this matter please do not hesitate to cheap eviction service to evict a tenant who owed contact Mark Stokes at the following email address; approximately £10,000 in rent. In the first hearing, the mark.stokes@wmlegal.co.uk. district judge granted a possession order despite the duty solicitor pointing out to the district judge that in their view the paid service provider was not a lawyer and therefore could not carry out the reserved activity in court.

The matter has now been heard by the high court Mark Stokes and the landlords have been ordered to pay the Chartered Legal tenant the sum of £13,386 in compensation plus Executive costs. This is because the cheap eviction service is @wmlegal not authorised to provide reserved legal services, yet had done so, which is also a criminal offence. The c Wollenmichelmore

Wollen Michelmore SOLICITORS Barnstaple 01271 342268

Dartmouth 01803 832191

Regional Law Firm of the Year South West

Exeter 01392 274006

Law Firm of the Year Award (11+ Partners)

Newton Abbot 01626 332266

www.wollenmichelmore.co.uk This firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulatory Authority (No.565599)

Torquay 01803 213251